FIFA World Cup 2010 match 6 - Group C
Algeria v Slovenia, 13th June - Polokwane

Algeria: Chaouchi, Bougherra, Belhadj, Yahia, Halliche, Lacen, Ziani, Yebda, Foued Kadir (Guedioura 82), Djebbour (Ghezzal 58), Matmour (Saifi 80).

Slovenia: Handanovic, Brecko, Suler, Cesar, Jokic, Koren, Kirm, Radosavljevic (Komac 87), Birsa (Pecnik 84), Novakovic, Dedic (Ljubijankic 52).

With England and the United States having drawn the opening game of this group the day before both these sides knew that a victory would give them a decent chance of making progress to the knockout stages. Unfortunately this knowledge did nothing to make the sides positive in their outlook, both looking more concerned about avoiding defeat. Consequently this game became an exercise in boredom.

Algeria were the more adventurous side, passing the ball with more speed and purpose, but neither side seemed willing to commit more than two players to any given attack. Not surprisingly most of the defending was done “cigar in mouth” style.

Belhadj whipped in a crisp early free kick which would have crept under the bar but was too central and Handanovic did the necessary in tipping over. It would be a full thirty minutes before the next action of note when Halliche, arriving late, headed badly wide from Ziani’s corner with Handanovic in no mans’ land.

Slovenia’s only meaningful attempt of the first half came just before it closed when Birsa put in a decent shot from just outside the box. Again the effort was too central, however, and Chaouchi was able to tip over.

Not a first half to buy on DVD.

Half Time: Algeria 0 Slovenia 0

If anything the second half was even more tepid than the first. Again it was Algeria showing slightly more urgency but the lack of ambition shown by both sides became ever more evident and it was impossible to see where a goal was coming from.

Just before the hour mark Algeria sent on Ghezzal up front in place of Djebbour, presumably to make something happen. The substitute fulfilled his mandate but not in the manner his manager would have wished.

Ghezzal’s first contribution was to mis-control a routine pass to his feet and then grab hold of the defenders shirt to earn a yellow card. He then got his head to two centres but without forcing Handanovic into a save and then, when another cross came in from the left which he couldn’t reach with his head, he thrust out his arm to bring the ball down and was promptly shown a second yellow card for handball.

A game of total dross had now become a game of totally absurd dross.

Fifteen minutes remained and the question now was did Slovenia have the ambition or ability to make their extra man count? The honest answer to this was no but they did end up grabbing victory anyway.

The first action after the sending off saw Handanovic spray a lazy pass out of his box towards Suler who was even lazier in allowing Ziani to sprint in and intercept. Ziani would have been clean through but his first touch was far too heavy and Handanovic was able to lunge out and avert the danger.

Then Slovenia’s next attack brought the games’ only goal. Koren was found in space just outside the area but his curler towards the far post was weak and should have presented Chaouchi with no problems at all. Somehow the Algerian keeper managed to allow the bouncing effort to brush off his arm on its’ way into the back of the net, however.

Whether this blunder was worse than Robert Green’s is debatable but the goalkeepers in this group are certainly not covering themselves in glory thus far.

Algeria’s ten men were unable to respond to this setback and Slovenia were able to claim one of the most undeserved victories of any World Cup finals.

The obvious conclusion to this game is that England will stroll into the knockout stages without any further problems but I would just add one note of caution. Both these sides will no doubt prefer playing against teams that actually come at them and, Algeria in particular, may pose some problems on the counter attack.

Full Time: Algeria 0 Slovenia 1

Algeria Ratings: Chaouchi 2, Bougherra 6, Belhadj 8, Yahia 5, Halliche 5, Lacen 4, Ziani 5, Yebda 5, Foued Kadir 4, Djebbour 3 (Ghezzal 0), Matmour 4 (Saifi 3).

Slovenia Ratings: Handanovic 5, Brecko 4, Suler 4, Cesar 5, Jokic 5, Koren 6, Kirm 4, Radosavljevic 5, Birsa 5, Novakovic 3, Dedic 3 (Ljubijankic 4).

Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala) 7
Must have been as bored as the rest of us but resisted the temptation to start making comedy decisions just to liven things up.

Good: Absolutely nothing.

Bad: Abdelkader Ghezzal. In a game of absolute garbage Ghezzal’s ludicrous cameo as substitute ultimately cost his side the game.

Ugly: Faouzi Chaouchi’s horrendous goalkeeping blunder. There’s no way that he’s The Fonz’s cousin. There’s no way that Joanie loves him either.