“My shirt will stay at family’s home,” says Ghezal

Algeria’s striker Abdelkader Ghezal said he was impressed by the supporters who attended Sunday’s qualifying match against Egypt. “I will offer my shirt to my family as they advised me to play for Algeria,” he told Echorouk in an interview.

• You scored a wonderful goal against Egypt. Did you expect such an event?
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• I was almost sure of victory over the Egyptian squad in view of the job we did in France training and the players’ level. Honestly, I did not expect that we would win with three goals but football is not an exact science.
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• But did you expect to score three goals?
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• It is difficult to predict three goals. Yet, everything is possible in football. The Egyptian squad was disappointed once we scored the first goal especially that we continue putting pressing until the last minute.
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• In the second goal, you were among many defenders. Did you talk to Belhadj before he kicked out the ball?
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• We have been trained in such actions for the last two years. Once I saw Belhadj next to the ball, I jumped and kicked out the ball in a way to confuse the goalkeeper.
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• How could you overcome the Egyptian defenders though they are tall?
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• I am neither tall nor small but I jump well. I remind the Algerian people that I am used to score goals in the same way in the Italian Championship.
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• How were your feelings in your first official match in front of the Algerian people?
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• Honestly, I was very astonished by the way the Algerian people support the squad. For me, it is the best in the world. Actually, the supporters contributed in the victory.
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• The supporters are asking now for qualification to the World Cup. Do you think you are capable of making the Algerian people’s dream come true?
• We are playing for the Algeria to achieve victories as much as we can. We always hope to be on the top in the group and even qualify to the World Cup. Yet, we must consider each much separately.
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• How do you expect the match against Zambia?
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• Zambia is in the top of the group as well. We must work on beating them in their stadium. I believe that it is possible if we played in the same way we did against Egypt.