Zambia face howling Foxes

ZAMBIA will take a commanding lead into the second round of the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup qualifiers if they edge Algeria in today’s encounter expected to be evenly-yoked at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.

• The two protagonists have four points each from two games but the Desert Foxes have a superior goal-difference having humiliated African champions Egypt 3-1 when the Chipolopolo edged Rwanda 1-0 two weeks ago.
• Positions are expected either to be swapped or Algeria will cement their position to derail Zambia’s mission for their first ever World Cup appearance.
• Both seemed to have trained hard for the tie but it will be down to which team have a better mental strength and which one apply effective tactics.
• Zambia coach Herve Renard has so far proved to be a tactician of sorts and has won all the games at Konkola Stadium since joining the technical bench in May last year.
• He has instilled self-belief not only in the players but the public, which had turned its eye against the team because of indifferent results.
• Zambians can dare to dream and will hope the dream will not turn into a nightmare because Algeria have rebounded strongly from two decades of a lull.
• Algeria’s bashing of Egypt underlined their strength and seriousness in the campaign and they know that Zambia, and not Egypt, stand between Algiers and Johannesburg.
• In terms of tactics, Renard is likely to employ the same system that he did against Rwanda but Jacob Mulenga is expected to start in order to give the team a stronger physical presence in attack.
• Mulenga, who was a substitute against Rwanda, is expected to partner Given Singuluma in a two-man pronged attack, which will be supported by skipper Christopher Katongo.
• The athleticism of the triumvirate, coupled with their brute power should be able to unsettle the Algerian who have imposing statures.
• Being a home game, Zambia should apply a 4-4-2 system but will occasionally switch to 4-3-3 depending on how Algeria will respond.
• Whether or not Christopher, Mulenga or Singuluma can prise open Algeria’s defence built around Antar Yahia (VfL, Bochum, Germany), and Madjid Bougherra (Rangers, Scotland) is a matter Renard should have worked on.
• Zambia will also rely on the fine distribution of anchorman Francis Kasonde, together with the infinite artistry Felix Katongo, the player Algerian coach Rabah Saadane wishes was not in the team.
• Felix usually initiates attacks from the left side of the midfield and is a handful to most opponents because of his dexterity and versatility.
• But he will meet the ingenuity of Karim Ziani and Yazid Mansouri from France’s Marseille and Lorient football clubs respectively.
• Diminutive Rainford Kalaba should form the fulcrum of Zambia’s play as he will be given a free role but with a bias towards the right wing.
• He should dove-tail well with right-back Joseph Musonda, who has an affinity for overlapping.
• And if Emmanuel Mbola will be at his usual best, then there will be problems for Algerians, who should however, never be written off.
• Saadane will deploy Rafik Djebbar of AEK Athens and Kader Ghezzal of Italy’s Siena in central attack and are expected to battle it out with defenders Nyambe Mulenga and Dennis Banda who will provide cover for goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
• At the end of the day, Zambia or Algeria, will lead the group but the result that Egypt, with one point, are praying for is a draw.
• Egypt will play Rwanda on July 5 because they are currently in South Africa for the Confederations Cup where they upset tables after beating world champions Italy 1-0 on Thursday night.
• The victory shook the football world order and commentators claimed Egypt were the first African team to beat Italy. They had forgotten that Zambia thrashed Italy 4-0 at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
• Zambia and Algeria have played a total of 10 games with the latter winning five and losing two. They have drawn three times, the latest being the 0-0 draw at the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
• One of the most memorable matches was when Zambia lost 0-1 in 1985 in Lusaka, the first loss at Independence Stadium.
• Saadane was in charge of the team and he is back to replicate that result.But things have changed and the result may not be the same.