Fouad Khedir to Echorouk: “Our task is difficult but it is not impossible before Slovenia”

Algeria’s team midfielder Fouad Khedir said he recognizes the difficult task of the Desert Warriors when they will face Slovenia here on Sunday.

 

• Khedir told Echorouk that he wishes to realize first victory in this World Cup and begin strong, asserting that this would open the doors for qualification for the second round.
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• Echorouk: You will face the Slovenian team today. Do you think the Desert Warriors will realise first victory in the World Cup?
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• Fouad Khedir: Of course, all the teams in South Africa want to achieve good results, especially in the first match, because it is the key to qualification for the second round. I think we are ready for this confrontation.
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• Echorouk: What can you say about the match against Slovenia?
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• Fouad Khedir: I think it will be very difficult, as the Slovenian team is strong and play a collective game, as well as having strong attackers. For this, we are forced to keep cautious.
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• Echorouk: Did you solve points of weakness in Algeria’s team?
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• Fouad Khedir: Every team has points of weakness and strength; however, I had better say nothing about it, because we will try to use it on the ground in order to achieve positive results that would keep our chances to play in the World Cup.
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• Echorouk: During the last training sessions, Coach Rabah Saadane placed you at the right wing. Do you feel comfortable in this position, or you wish to playas an offensive midfielder like in your French club Valenciennes?
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• Fouad Khedir: In Valencienne I used to play in many positions and I think this is not a problem for me. The most important is to show a good performance.
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• Echorouk: You did not play as a defender; do you fear the difficulty of this task today?
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• Fouad Khedir: I am a strong player and ready to play at any position, although I did not play in this position in many clubs but I will do my best to defend and attack in a good way in order to help my teammates.
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• Echorouk: Many people think that victory over Slovenia will open doors for qualification to the second round. Do you agree which this view?
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• Fouad Khedire: I am with the opinion that emphasises the need to play all the matches at the same level, as the win against Slovenia will give us only three points and we could not qualify, and if we want to get through the first round, we are compelled to achieve the largest number of points and play all the matches with the same determination.
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• Echorouk: You will play before 5000 Algerian fans. Do you think this would be sufficient to support you more during this match?
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• Fouad Khedire: I am well aware that Algerian team has become very popular in Algeria and I realize that a large number of supporters have travelled to South Africa in order to support us today. This will give us more strength and we will try to do our best to show good performance in the Group C matches.
• Echorouk: Do you think failing to go through the first round is a bad result?
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• Fouad Khedire: The most important thing to talk about is the presence of Algeria’s team in the World Cup after an absence of about 24 years, but as long as we have come to South Africa, our chances are equal to all the teams and we will not fear any of them.
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• Echorouk: Are you applying this talk on the English team?
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• Fouad Khedire: In the World Cup we have to feel great determination and play without a complex. If we achieve a positive result, it is good but we continue to learn.