Karim Ziani: “I’m eager to play versus Egypt”

In an interview granted to “Echorouk” at the Fennecs' training camp in southern France, Algerian midfielder Karim Ziani talked about the decisive match versus the Egyptian squad due to take place on June 7th in Blida stadium and about his future destination stressing it was not on the agenda for the time being

• Q: The Algerian people is wondering about your health condition, can you tell us what happened to you before the last fixture of the French league versus Rennes?
• A: Thank God, I’m pretty good  now and I took part normally in the last training sessions with the Algerian national squad.
• Q: Does it mean that you will take part in the upcoming match versus Egypt?
• A: The last word goes to  head coach Rabah Saadane, it’s up to him to decide, and as far as I am  concerned,  I feel 100% ready to play against Egypt in Tchaker stadium.
• Q: The whole nation is waiting for this match; do you feel the responsibility that lies on your shoulders, three days before the big event?
• A: Of course yes, all the players are aware of that and we know the importance of the match especially that victory over Egypt has a special taste.
• Q: Do you think that you are able to beat them?
• A: If I felt the contrary I wouldn’t accepted the coach’s call up, I’m an ambitious player and always play for the win. We do respect the Egyptian side and now that they the African champions twice in a row, but this doesn’t mean anything for us, because we are also a good team and we can beat them next Sunday.
• Q: Some laid the blame on the head coach who counted you out in the recent friendly versus Benin?
• A: I appreciate his professionalism, it’s nonsense to call up someone under a ban because priority goes to the fittest players.
• Q: Do you think that Tchaker stadium is a good option for such confrontations?
• A: I think that the Algerian Football Association (FAF) has no other alternative for the time being, but I’m looking forward to playing on a nice pitch to perform the best football possible.
• Q: Everybody agrees that the match versus Egypt is the key for the World Cup ticket, any comment?
• A: It’s true that this match is important for the rest of the competition, but we have to win all the other fixtures at home if we want to book our ticket to the world Cup.
• Q: The head coach has chosen “Le Castelli” hotel in southern France as training camp, is it a wise choice?
• A: I thank him along with the president of the FAF, it’s better like this we would have been subjected to a lot of pressure if we stayed in Algeria as it was the case during the match versus Guinea.
• Q: You were only aged 18 when you defeated the Pharaohs of Egypt in 2004 what are the memories that you still keep in mind?
• A: More than five years have past since this and I will never forget these moments, especially that we were a young team that took over the Pharaohs thanks to bravery.
• Q: What is the difference between this team and the one that took part in the 2004 African Cup of Nations?
• A: I think that this squad is technically more mature and possesses better experienced elements.
• Q: Let’s talk about your season with OM Marseille, do you feel satisfied with your performance with this outfit?
• A: I played much more than last year and honestly I think I was far better than the last season.
• Q: But you lost the trophy to Bordeaux when you were beaten by Lyon at home, what really happened?
• A: Nothing special this is the rule of the game you can win outside as you can lose at home, but being ranked second is not an easy task when you have such rivals like Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse.
• Q: Are you going to carry on playing with OM Marseille?
• A:  I’m still in Marseille, but I have to meet the new team coach Didier Deschamps to talk about my future.