Algeria seek World Cup technology boffins boost

Algeria plan to use foreign technology boffins to give them the lowdown on their World Cup opponents.

• Coach Rabah Saadane cannot attend all the warm-up games of Group C rivals England, USA and Slovenia.
• So he will rely on reruns of the matches with a special software.
• “To learn more about our rivals, we have consulted specialists outside of Algeria who have sophisticated software to do summaries about their strengths and weaknesses,” Saadane said.
• “When I arrive at (Swiss base) Crans Montana, I will work on it because until now I have a lot of work and I didn’t have the time to do it.”
• This is the third time Algeria have qualified for the finals but their previous appearances in 1982 and 1986 resulted in first-round elimination.
• Saadane conceded he had no idea what his starting 11 would be for the opening game against Slovenia on 13 June.
• “Friendlies against Ireland and the United Arab Emirates are ‘test’ matches,” he said referring to planned warm-up games in Dublin on 28 May and on 5 June in Nuremberg respectively.
• “The results are not important to me. I will not be playing for the results but to note the level of my team’s attacking and defending,” he added.
• Saadane has one other priority.
• “The Algerian team was absent from the finals for 24 years. I think the most important thing is that Algeria will come back on the international stage with dignity and put on an honourable performance.

• “We must represent with dignity not only Algerian soccer but also African and Arabic soccer. I will insist on that with my players,” he said.