Don’t fear, Renard urges Zambians

COACH Herve Renard has calmed people’s nerves ahead of Saturday’s qualifier against Algeria, saying there is no reason to fear because Zambia have a chance to win the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifier.

• Fans have been making permutations over the game following Algeria’s 3-1 victory over African champions Egypt, and are now uncertain about Zambia’s chances against the Desert Foxes.
• Speaking on arrival at Ndola International Airport yesterday when the Chipolopolo returned from South Africa, Renard said football is a tricky sport.
• “No one should be scared, they (Algeria) beat Egypt…we drew with Egypt and they (Egypt) played an improved game against Brazil.
• “Who thought Brazil would beat Egypt on a penalty? Football is difficult,” Renard said.
• Egypt stretched Brazil in the Confederations Cup Group B opener with the five-time world champions needing a stoppage time penalty to beat the Africans 4-3.
• Egypt are bottom of Group C with just a point so is Rwanda while Algeria and Zambia have four points each but the North Africans have a better goal aggregate.
• Renard said victory will give Zambia a chance of qualifying to the Africa Cup finals in Angola.
• “On Saturday, we can have an advantage of qualifying to the Africa Cup looking at it mathematically. We are in a good position to get to the Africa Cup,” he said.
• On fears by the Algerians on the state of Konkola Stadium, Renard said his charges would play a good game to win.
• He said he prepared his team on a good ground and wondered why the Algerians were complaining about the pitch.
• Renard, however, admitted that the turf was bumpy but not as bad as the North Africans were imagining.
• Meanwhile, the Algerians are expected to apply long balls to avoid a passing game because of the bumpy pitch.
• Coach, Rabah Saadane, told Le Buteur in Pretoria that his visit to Zambia over a month ago would help him devise a game plan.
• “You have an idea on the state of the pitch but I also have my own which is more precise. I already went there a month ago to study every corner.
• I know there are bumps and am sure they haven’t been able to improve on them in a month and half,” Saadane said.
• “Even during the Zambia-Rwanda match, I saw the Zambians using high balls.
• They knew that they couldn’t pass normally in certain spots.”
• The Algerians are expected in Ndola today.