For the Algeria squad, this has been a tournament of breaking new ground.
First, they won their first World Cup match since 1982 — a 4-2 victory over South Korea, and then on Thursday they qualified for the knockout stages for the first time.
Islam Slimani’s 60th-minute headed equalizer was enough to gain his team a 1-1 draw against Russia and the one competition point they needed to place second in Group H behind Belgium.
Photo: AFP
Now, Algeria has another 32-year anniversary on their radar.
On Monday, the Algerians are to meet Germany in the Round of 16 in Porto Alegre.
The teams have not met since 1982, when Algeria beat West Germany, one of the tournament favorites, with Lakhdar Belloumi memorably stroking home the winner. Though they went on to win another game in that tournament, Algeria failed to qualify for the second round after West Germany and Austria played out a result that suited those teams.
Qualification for the second round in Brazil finally allows the team from North Africa to move on from one of the World Cup’s most contentious episodes.
Qualification prompted mass celebrations in the packed Algerian section, and on the pitch among the players. Even their combative coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, was hugging staff and players and shaking his head in apparent disbelief.
“I’m very proud of what we achieved tonight,” Halilhodzic said. “I think Algeria played a heroic match and our qualification is perfectly deserved.”
Algeria had to come from behind to get through. Russia, needing a win to advance, took the lead in the 6th minute when Alexander Kokorin powerfully headed in a left-foot cross from Dmitry Kombarov.
Slimani’s equalizer came after Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev failed to catch a swinging left-foot free kick from Yacine Brahimi.
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