Algeria 2014 FIFA World Cup Squad: Player-by-Player Guide
Algeria became the second African nation to release their provisional World Cup squad of 30 when, on Monday, coach Vahid Halilhodzic announced his selection.
The Desert Foxes have been drawn into World Cup group H alongside Russia, Belgium and South Korea. They begin their campaign on June 17, at the Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte, against Belgium.
Largely, the squad chosen by the manager was as expected. The players who have served Algeria well during qualification remain in the squad.
Six of the players who featured in the side’s disappointing Cup of Nations showing in early 2013 have missed out, while there was also no place for striker Ishak Belfodil, who has endured a disappointing campaign in Italy.
Nabil Bentaleb and Aissa Mandi, both of whom made their debut in the recent friendly against Slovenia, make the squad, while there is a recall for SC Bastia midfielder Ryad Boudebouz, who hasn’t featured for the Maghreb side since the Cup of Nations.
Finally, Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez receives a first invitation after his impressive title-winning campaign in the Championship.
Read on for player-by-player profiles of Algeria’s 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.
Defenders
Name: Carl Medjani
Date of Birth: 15/05/1985
Birthplace: Lyon (France)
Position: Centre-back, Defensive midfielder
Caps: 24
Club: Valenciennes, on loan from AS Monaco (Both France)
Name: Madjid Bougherra
Date of Birth: 07/10/1982
Birthplace: Longvic (France)
Position: Centre-back
Caps: 61
Club: Lekhwiya (Qatar)
Name: Rafik Halliche
Date of Birth: 02/09/1986
Birthplace: Algiers
Position: Centre-back
Caps: 27
Club: Academica de Coimbra (Portugal)
Name: Djamel Mesbah
Date of Birth: 02/09/1986
Birthplace: Zighoud Youcef
Position: Left-back, Left wing-back, Left midfield
Caps: 25
Club: Livorno, on loan from Parma (both Italy)
Name: Essaid Belkalem
Date of Birth: 01/01/1989
Birthplace: Mekla
Position: Centre-back
Caps: 12
Club: Watford (England), on loan from Granada (Spain)
Name: Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaiba
Date of Birth: 05/03/1988
Birthplace: Toulouse (France)
Position: Versatile Defender
Caps: 6
Club: RCD Mallorca, on loan from Real Sociedad (both Spain)
Name: Faouzi Ghoulam
Date of Birth: 01/02/1991
Birthplace: Saint-Priest-en-Jarez (France)
Position: Left-back
Caps: 5
Club: Napoli (Italy)
Name: Aissa Mandi
Date of Birth: 22/10/1991
Birthplace: Chalons-en-Champagne (France)
Position: Right-back
Caps: 1
Club: Stade de Reims (France)
Name: Mehdi Mostefa
Date of Birth: 30/08/1983
Birthplace: Dijon (France)
Position: Defensive midfielder, Versatile midfielder/defender
Caps: 22
Club: AC Ajaccio (France)
Forwards
Name: El Arbi Hillel Soudani
Date of Birth: 25/11/1987
Birthplace: Chlef
Position: Striker, Left-sided forward
Caps: 20
Club: Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
Name: Islam Slimani
Date of Birth: 18/06/1988
Birthplace: Algiers
Position: Striker
Caps: 18
Club: Sporting Clube de Portugal (Portugal)\
Name: Rafik Djebbour
Date of Birth: 08/03/1984
Birthplace: Grenoble (France)
Position: Striker
Caps: 33
Club: Nottingham Forest (England), on loan from Olympiacos (Greece)
Name: Nabil Ghilas
Date of Birth: 20/04/1990
Birthplace: Marseille (France)
Position: Striker
Caps: 4
Club: FC Porto (Portugal)