The Big Review

January 8th, 2012 | by: Kazi | View Comments

2012 is here, and the time is ripe for the review of our national team to be carried out. We will go through the highs, then through the lows. And after that’s done, then comes the choice of which Algerian player has represented us best, both domestically and in the white and green shirts.

2011 started on a sour note for Algeria. We were bottom of our group, we’d drawn with Tanzania at home, Saadane had left amidst a rain of media backlash, Benchikha was hired with the illusion spread (I too, I admit, was lulled into it) that his discipline will set things straight. The next match we lost to RCA, their first ever win in an African Qualifying campaign, in what has to be one of the worst matches ever played by the Algerian national team. The team had disappointed in Luxembourg and Benchikha was already on the ropes.

Safe to say, 2011 was going to be interesting.

It started off in Annaba, the choice of venue for the qualifier between Algeria and the Atlas Lions of Morocco. In what was a scrappy, shoddy excuse of a football game which did display strong defensive play, Algeria won 1-0 thanks to a thundering Hassan Yebda penalty. Moroccans infuriated with questionable refereeing, Algerians relieved to come away with 3 points.

At this point we began to relax, we began to take it easy. How silly and how naïve were we, to think that beating a near non-league side 5-0 in Murcia would ever be suitable preparation for the threat ahead. Taarabt had stormed out, Morocco was seemingly in Chaos.

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4-0 to the Moroccan side in Marrakesh, who showed us that the only thing in chaos was our tactics. The two centre backs who were noted for holding off the likes of Rooney, Defoe, Suarez, Drogba and Kanoute, were made to look like children (literally on their backsides) by Assaidi, Chamakh and Hadji. Benatia, ironically half Algerian, was to be the one to score the opening goal. There was nothing good about that game.

Except one thing.

Shortly after the game, Benchikha was sacked resigned as punishment repentance for losing by such an embarrassing margin to one of our fierce rivals, and for practically throwing the qualification to 2012 out of the window.

Then began the guessing game.

Peckermann, Dunga, Zico, Domenech (ughghghghghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh), Klinsmann were all touted and all offered the role.

The winner of the placement? Vahid Halilhodzic; The man Algeria put out of the job in 2010 by beating Ivory Coast in the quarter finals of the ACN.

Safe to say, this wasn’t taken too well by the Algerian press and public, who were awaiting with baited breath the arrival of Dunga or Klinsmann. Then came his first press conference, admitting there was next to no chance of us making it to the 2012 ACN, that he wasn’t here for the money but for the challenge, that he intended to make Algeria better than the team that beat him in Angola, that he would qualify Algeria for the 2013 ACN and the 2014 World Cup.

This intrigued us and kept us watching with intent. His decision to change the friendly into a training camp seemed to be something he learnt a good deal from, as he then proceeded to make cuts and promotions as he felt necessary. Gone were Gaouaoui and Chaouchi from the goalkeeping ranks, what seems to be, for good. Meghni returned as was told frankly by Vahid what he needed to do to return to the fold.

The first match came against Tanzania, a loss, and we were finished and a draw was not much better either. Benyamina was given another chance and seemed to impress, looking sharp as well as providing the headed assist to Bouazza for the goal. But thanks to a defensive blunder from Laifaoui, we ended up drawing the match. Our fate was no longer in our hands and Vahid was inexplicably disappointed. However, there were far more positives than would have been suggestted, evidenced in the next match against RCA. Here Vahid made it imperative. Win, or win. You have no choice, you must win. And it was a far better performance from the Algerian side than had been seen for a very long time. Yebda’s ruthless header scoring the first within minutes of the kick off, and Kadir following suit shortly after. Chance after chance was created, but due to the wasteful Ghezzal and Matmour, nothing more came of it. The midfield trio of Lemmouchia (whose return and the sudden upturn in form of the NT should not go unnoticed), Lacen and Yebda were like stockades, with no one getting past, leaving the counterparts sparse opportunities to score.

A good start then, ending an unsuccessful and tumultuous campaign on a sort-of-sweet note. Then came the friendlies against Tunisia and Cameroon, a first test for Vahid against top African opposition. This matchup was abuzz with excitement, as the Franco-Algerian prodigy, Sofiane Feghouli, had finally gained FIFA clearance to play for Algeria, and was with the squad training. Unfortunately a slight injury kept him and Matmour out of the Tunisia match with a view to play in the Cameroon game. The Tunisia match went on and the Fennecs came through 1-0 winners with a sublime left foot effort that shot past everyone including the Tunisian goalkeeper into his bottom right hand corner. Soudani was given his chance to shine and although he didn’t score the way he played he thoroughly deserved one, showing good pace on the ball and piling on pressure quickly towards the opposition backline. Doukha got his first cap for Algeria where he showed himself to be of better standing than his predecessor in the first half Zemmamouche. M’Bolhi too was injured for this game.

Then came the fiasco of Algeria vs Algeria. The Cameroon side, after winning the LG friendly cup in Morocco, was held in Marrakech due to a dispute between the players and the federation over unpaid bonuses. The players moved to boycott the match as a protest against the federation. With the match cancelled, the Algerian federation, already infuriated and embarrassed at the situation, opted to refund the tickets purchased, and offered a free for all to watch match of two Algeria sides going head to head. Safe to say, the situation brought about the conception of many a joke in Algeria. Still the match went ahead, with the Algeria White team beating the Algeria Green team 5-1. Said Bouchouk and Hilel Soudani the stars of the match, with Bouchouk being the revelation of the match, proving Halilhodzic’s ability to spot a talent when he sees one. The pitch deserves no comment, clearly hampering the play of many a player. However, Vahid was far from happy, I guess you could imagine, he would have been perfectly happy with a scoring draw, but for M’Bolhi to concede 5 goals was embarrassing. He went off on the players he deemed had taken the situation too lightly and warned them against it the next time.

He has made his presence felt off the pitch too. Raouraoua has taken more of a backseat now with regards to the national side, showing how much of the reigns Vahid has taken ahold of. His influence seems to be affecting things in Europe as well, with Franco Algerians suddenly cropping up everywhere being scouted, and long shots suddenly being realistic options. Belfodil has confirmed his decision to play for Algeria once he gets form, whilst Brahimi, Ghoulam, Taider and Saadi, are now seriously in the mix. Liassine Cadamuro Bentaiba has been another find of Vahid, who may choose to use him as a solution to the right back problem we have.

He also knows which players he likes and that is evident in two cases in particular; Meghni and Djabou. With Meghni, Vahid is showing patience, waiting for Meghni to be rid of his repeated injuries with a view to him regaining fitness to reintegrate him into the squad. As for Djabou, Halilhodzic has gone on record to say he is the best talent there is playing in Algeria, he simply lack confidence, once he finds his form again, he will form a key part of the team.

The most important aspect however, is his discipline. No one is exempt. After missing the course at Marcoussis through injury, despite other injured players like Guedioura turning up, Boudebouz was punished with a two-game suspension, as an example to players that didn’t stay in line. This same rule has been exercised with Belkacem Fabre, who has 1 match remaining on his suspension (if the Algeria vs Algeria match isn’t counted). Also, the point of him dropping Ziani, the most iconic member of the side, was one that raised many a question, Vahid said it was because Ziani’s coach told him he was injured therefore not available for a call up, others saw it as a warning that no one escapes Halilhodzic and that they had better make the right choices both with the NT and at club level (Halilhodzic publicly denounced the transfers of top members of the NT to the gulf.) Safe to say, this has done more than it’s fair share in instilling in the players a sense of responsibility as well as understanding that, both on and off the pitch, Vahid’s word is law. The team is not it’s freeform mess it was in Marrakech, it now has a shape, and it has a structure.

It’s good progress so far, but as Vahid constantly says, we’re not there yet, far from it, but we will be there. What to expect from 2012? Honestly, it’s too hard to say. There are already so many things going on now that to know what will happen next would be on some Nostradamus level. Hopefully, it’s only good things.

What 2011 also brought was greater exposure for our talented youth setups, in particular our Under 23’s. The now ex-manager Aït Djoudi did a brilliant job in creating a setup that qualified for the CAF U-23 Championship with relative ease. With the skills of Sayoud and Benaldjia supplying the squad, the efficiency and record of Chalali up front, and the defensive goliaths Belkalem and Bedbouda at the back, Algeria was a really threatening prospect. Unfortunately, this was not reflected in their performance in the final Tournament that served as the qualification process for the 2012 Olympic Football Tournament. With the beneficial influx of Abeid and Hamroun, who provided great offensive threat with brilliant pace, strength and skill, as well as the testing of shining prospects Bilal Hamdi, Abdelhakim Omrani and Najib Ammari, the offensive front looked peachy.

Unfortunately, the injuries and subsequent suspension for the latter of Belkalem and Bedbouda, affected the team physically, mentally and defensively. Two gigantic defensive lynchpins, Captain and Vice Captain of the U23 set up were gone and this was all too telling in the build up to the tournament and during. The side were conceding far too many chances compared to usual and looked shaky at the back. On one side it affirmed the importance and talent of our two best young defenders, on the other side it provided an opportunity to the players to present their abilities. Only one defender stood out, this being Djameleddine Benlamri, the right back who was the undoubted star of the Algerian set up in the build up to and during the tournament. The performances garnered him adoration, with comparisons drawn up between him and the legendary right back Chaabane Merzekane, a position that is yet to be filled properly ever since. He along with many other players, raised their profiles in the market. Benlamri gained interest from numerous clubs including SL Benfica, with concrete offers from Sporting Lisbon and RC Lens, and has stated his preference for the prior team. Benaldjia, the ferocious right winger, Aouedj his replacement, Khelili and Bitam also all garnered interest from the Iberian peninsula, with Benaldjia and Aouedj both being offered trials at numerous clubs, Benfica included.

Aït Djoudi said that the main thing that went wrong for the side in the tournament was that the mentality of the team changed, and individualism was affecting the play badly, and that Coach Vahid’s appearance on the scene made them self conscious and wanting to impress him. True, but sometimes you’re just not lucky as was the case against Nigeria.

But one good thing that may have come from this is that the U23 players, who had they qualified, would have had to wait until after the Olympics to get their chance with the NT. Now that that is out of the way, their opportunity to join may come much sooner. Chalali for one, has been told to ready himself for he is indeed, if all goes well, to be selected for the next NT camp. Abeid, Sayoud, Bedbouda, Benlamri and Hamroun have all also been touted as awaiting call ups.

Staying on the topic of the youth players, what also has changed is the awareness and the willingness of ex-pat players now wanting/willing/interested in playing for Algeria with Vahid’s new project. The likes of Feghouli have joined, and Ishak Belfodil and Liassine Bentaiba confirming their position in wanting to play for the NT, and the increased interest of Brahimi, Tafer, Taider, Courgnaud have all added a sense of greater potential into the side. One more element is Faouzi Ghoulam, who has been the centre of some controversy after having been misquoted as saying he chooses France over Algeria.

Hopefully all goes well and we grow into a team that can dominate for the first time since the 80’s and early 90’s.

Now, for the one you’ve all been waiting for, the choice of the Top Algerian Player of 2011. This player needs to have shown efficiency, consistency as well as brilliance at both domestic and international level.

In 4th place: Foued Kadir. He misses a podium spot ever so slightly. But it is his incredible form at club level and his consistency for the NT that brings him here. After coming back from a sustained injury that kept him out for around 6 months, he returns with a bang with goal after assist followed by goal, repeatedly being Valenciennes’ most important man on the pitch. That form has carried onto the new year. Whilst we are yet to see it fully translated onto the NT stage, it has no doubt begun making it’s way, with him scoring his first goal for the NT against the RCA. If he carries on this form, it’s into the podium easily for next year.

In 3rd place: Djamel Mesbah. A necessity for Lecce and now one of the first names to be put down on the Algerian team sheet, Mesbah has showed consistently time and time again that he can put in the performance to help his team, both defensively and offensively. Far more assured at the back than his predecessor Belhadj, and just as capable offensively, Mesbah has instilled himself as a vital member both domestically and internationally. One of only two players who have consistently provided good performances in Algeria shirts and not flattered to decieve.

In 2nd place: Ryad Boudebouz. The great hope for the future, Ryad is the living embodiment of how Algerian football was and should be; Fast, Creative and filled with Flair. An untouchable part of the Sochaux lineup, and at the tender age of 21 a fully fledged international, Boudebouz has time and time again displayed his incredible ability and potential for Sochaux. However, barring the less than often occasion, he has yet to replicate the form he shows at club level on the bigger stage. The Tunisia match was a start, where he was without a doubt lethally effective and decisive, but that needs to carry on for him to deserve the title he has garnered from the Algerian media of being the best Algerian player there is. His ability and potential can lead him to being the best Algeria has ever had, but personally, I don’t think he’s shown enough in the national jersey to vindicate that.

In 1st place……………………………..

Mehdi Lacen. Without a shadow of a doubt the nearest to faultless any of our players have been over the past year. Consistently grinding out disciplined and strong performances for Getafe/Racing and Algeria, and the bedrock of the midfield, Lacen is the second best thing to come from Saadane’s reign after the potential talent in Boudebouz. His efficiency in the middle, ruggedness in a tackle are all admirable. What is also noticable is the profound effect he seems to have had on other members of the side, particularly Yebda. Yebda used to be the centre midfielder who would regularly bomb forward leaving the back exposed. Lacen, particularly after the RCA game, seems to have refined him somewhat, making him more defensively and tactically aware than before, with him taking more of a defensive role than before, whilst being just as available up front. My number one for sure this year.

That’s it for my review of the year, hope you all liked it and looking forward to the Gambia match soon.