I've shed blood for my team so Wayne Rooney doesn't scare me, says Algeria's Rafik Halliche

Rafik Halliche has already spilt blood for Algeria's World Cup cause and will have no hesitation in doing so again tonight.

• The young defender faces the daunting prospect of harnessing Wayne Rooney in Polokwane but it will be nothing compared to the night he and his teammates faced a baying mob on the streets of Cairo. 
• Halliche and the Algeria team had arrived at their hotel ahead of the decisive World Cup qualifier against their fierce rivals when a group of around 100 Egyptian fans surrounded the team bus and began pelting it with bricks and stones. 
• The windows were smashed and players and staff were hit. French TV reports noted blood along the floor. 
• Halliche was one of three players left injured and needed stitches above his eye.
• ‘It was terrifying,’ he said. 
• ‘There seemed to be no security to protect us and we were an easy target. They were big lumps of stone. Everyone ducked for cover but it’s not something you expect. 
• ‘There were people saying we had made it up but the bus was smashed and a few of us were covered in blood. We were very angry afterwards but it brought us closer together. It gave us great spirit.’
• That spirit ultimately was enough to see off Egypt as they had to play a one-off decider in Sudan which Algeria won 1-0.
• It is their first World Cup finals for 24 years. 
• ‘It was difficult in many ways,’ said Halliche. 
• ‘Egypt have a great team, the environment was so against us, we were attacked…many things that united the group. We crossed that road and it’s Algeria who are in the World Cup.
• ‘I bled for my country but I’d do it again if it was necessary.

• ‘I always sacrifice everything for my teams. I can’t understand those guys who don’t see football and passion as being synonymous with each other.
• I would fight for my teammate like he was my brother. That’s why I love English football and English fans because of their passion.’
• Like many Algerians, Halliche is keen to play in England. He is currently on loan from Benfica to Portuguese side Nacional Madeira but wants to put himself in the shop window against England and notably Rooney. 
• The 23-year-old is, like Rooney, gentle and softly spoken off the pitch but, in his own words, ‘a gladiator’ on it. 
• ‘I am not afraid of Rooney. I’m not afraid of any Englishman. I’m a grown-up and a tough boy. But I have great respect for them. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard; they have very good players.
• ‘I particularly find Rooney as the biggest threat. We need to be quicker than him in thought. If he thinks before us and we give him some space, we will be in big trouble. but maybe we will surprise a few people. 
• ‘To me, England are one of the favourites to win the tournament, but no team is perfect, they have faults and we have to find them to improve our chances and win. 
• ‘Anyway, they are the favourites, we don’t have anything to lose. This is football. It is never an exact science.’ 
• Halliche accepts the laws of probability are not in his favour but he reasons a good performance could change his career. 
• ‘I can tell you one thing: the Premier League is my dream and I know some clubs are following me. I want to play my best game in the World Cup and get a move to England.
• ‘Football is made of surprises and that’s what makes it so beautiful.’

• England beware.