Three Unavailable Algeria International Players Extend Apologies To National Coach Alcáraz

Three Algerian international players have apologized to new national team coach Lucas Alcáráz for not being able to meet him during his European exploratory tour, he undertook in the last few days.

In a reaction, the national team coach Alcaraz gave them the green light for this timely absenteeism, compared to their called-up colleagues in the Desert Warriors.

Belgium’s Standard De Liege striker Ishaq Belfodil apologized for having nose surgery. French Montpellier’s playmaker for his part Ryad Boudebouz expounded his absence by conducting medical tests. 

For his part, midfielder Walid Mesloub, explained that he was now tied up with his French team Lorient, which is bracing, he said, for a crucial championship match to avert dropping into the second division.

Head coach Lucas Alcáraz met face-to-face during his recent European tour with 17 Algerian professional players and the others have been contacted by phone with the help of a FAF interpreter. 

In addition, Lucas Alcaraz attended six European fixtures from the stands of the stadium with the presence on the pitch of some of the players of the “Greens” of Algeria in order to oversee the current physical shape and performance of the Algerian players with their respective European clubs.

The “Greens” of Algeria are gearing up for two matches on their agenda: the first one, a friendly against Guinea Conakry on June 6th, to be followed by a CAN fixture versus Togo 5 days later, in the framework of the opening of the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifiers. 

The two upcoming fixtures are scheduled to be played at Blida’s Tchaker Stadium in the Ramadan evening starting from 22h 00 local time and this will be regarded by many as the first performance test for the new national coach at the helm of the Algeria football line-up.