before
Namibia in some kind of
rainbow red, without critized midfielder Tjikuzu and Algeria in white without
Dziri but with Benarbia. Namibia are considered without chance in this
group and the 3 points are obligatory for Algeria. Algeria suffers from
the typical North African desease of having problems converting an intelligent
and skillful passing game into goals but Namibia are not known for scoring
sprees either, rather for dropout matches in defence. But no match is won
automatically and Namibia has had some surpring good performances some
times.
1st half
('4) after a moderate beginning
a first big hole in the Namibian defence forces the goalkeeper tu run out
and rescue
('5) Algeria maintain their
spell and the Namibian defence shows clear signs of vulnurability.
-Algeria attacks using
the wings and tries to suffocate counter attempts by attacking the Namibians,
who yet operate without long balls, deep in their own half.
-('11) a low cross from
the left exposes another misplacement in the Namibian defence and find
Tasfaout? all alone in front of the goal but his direct shot goes wide
by a meter - a huge opportunity
-('12) next cross - next
trouble, Namibians get nervous and have problems to get the ball away
-only once yet Namibia
has been able to conduct a neat passing sequence through midfield
-('18) an ugly looking late
challenge on an Algerian striker, he has to get treated aside the field
-('28) good save by the
Namibian keeper against a dangerous bouncing distance shot
-('28) on the counter break
2 Namibian players hunted by a sole defender run with the ball in direction
to the Algerian goal only the keeper between them and the net. The player
with the ball tries to shove the ball into the left corner from about 18
meters and fails: the ball rolls wide - unbelievable
-the ground is a bit
difficult to play on, an exact side pass would not have been as easy as
it seemed
-('32) continuing dangers
for Namibian defence when after a one-two Algerians try to go for a penalty
but wiothout success
-('34) free kick, 18
meters half left, #19 Belmadi perfectly curves it over the wall into the
triangle at the first goal post - 1:0
-('37) after a corner more
troubles for Namibians, a volley attempt by Tasfaout which sets up a direct
shot by another player from 8 meters and a great save by the Namibian keeper
-the attempts of Namibian
defenders to play the ball out of their penalty area too often appear
to be disastrously
-('injury time) Namibia
penetrate into the penalty area and accomplish a shot on the goal, but
it is harmless and no problem for the keeper
halftime 1:0
although Namibia exposed
weak spots all over their defence, Algeria again needed a set piece to
score and had to survive a big scare before when Namibians proved they
are no better in converting opportunities. Now it will be difficult for
Namibia to get back into the game, they lack impact. From the offered opportunities
Algeria should have no problem to score the deciding second goal, but...
2nd half
-('46) Algeria express their
determination by a concentrated start and a Belmadi 16 meter shot, saved
without problems
-('48) Ghazi, inside the
penalty area, is touched, goes for the penalty adding theatralics, and
is rewarded with a yellow card
-('58) Algeria: header after
corner only misses by centimeters
-('64) Ghazi, running towards
the goal on a counter attack, is stopped in the last moment by a
Namibian tackle
-('65) Algeria: #12, who
has come in as a substitute tries a sharp shot from half right burt Namibian
keeper can deflect it for a corner
-('72) Namibia break through
by a diagonal ball but #8 only hits the outside of the net from half left
hand side
-the match has some odd
looking sequences
-('82) indirect free kick
for Algeria 18 meters half right hand side fired across the bar, about
half a meter high, by Ghazi
-Algeria have lost much
of their methodology of constructing dangerous attacks through out the
match but survive the rest of the match somehow
final result 1:0
This match has perfectly
exposed the weaknesses (and also some strengths) of both teams and might
serve as a perfect video for preperation purposes against the two squads.
It is difficult to imagine one of the two could make it to the World Cup.
For Namibia it is almost impossible, for Algeria the chance is still alive
- the encounters with their Northern neighbours are a different affair.
The Algerian team, which
especially in the beginning of match plays a fine football seems in difficulties
to score without the help of penalties or free kicks despite working out
several opportunities. Still they do not look perfect in defence. This
makes their chances slim, having already lost two oints at home against
Senegal.
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