No surprises in Algeria´s pre-World Cup squad

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane on Tuesday unveiled his pre-World Cup squad, the majority of whom took part in the African Cup of Nations.

“Selection has been a real headache but I wanted to keep the backbone of the team that got through to the semi-finals in Angola,” Saadane told journalists.

Thirty players were picked for training camps in Crans-Montana, Switzerland (May 13-26), and Nuremberg, Germany (May 31-June 6), but the coach will name the five reserves at a later date.

“The end of the season is difficult with some players injured and others exhausted. Our two camps will allow us to evaluate each player, including their capability to adapt to altitude.”

The technical and medical staff have been increased, Saadane said, adding: “We will do the maximum to be in the second round.”

Apart from three goalkeepers, Saadane picked just one outfield player plying his trade in the Algerian championship, Abdelkader Laifaoui of ES Setif.

Algeria will play warm-up games against Ireland on June 28 in Dublin and the United Arab Emirates in Nuremberg on June 5.

The north Africans have been drawn in Group C at the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals in South Africa alongside England, Slovenia and the United States.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Fawzi Chouachi (ES Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (MC Alger), M’bohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia/BUL)

Defenders: Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers/SCO), Carl Medjani Carl (Ajaccio/FRA), Rafi Halliche (Nacional Madeira/POR), Anther Yahia (Bochum/GER), Haib Belaid (Boulogne/FRA), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth/ENG), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce/ITA)

Midfielders: Hassen Yebda (Potsmouth/ENG), Mehdi Lacen (Racing Santander/ESP), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient/FRA), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton/ENG), Riad Boudebouz Riad (Sochaux/FRA), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes/FRA), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes/FRA), Mourad Meghni (Lazio/ITA), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg/GER), Karim Matmour (M’Gladbach/GER)

Strikers: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Sienna/ITA), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens/GRE), Rafik Saifi (Istres/FRA)