#remember #match #Uganda
Victorious in their first outing since March 29, Djamel Belmadi’s Greens certainly won all three points but also delivered a lesson-rich performance.
The version of the National Team Djamel Belmadi will live two eras. The first, prior to March 29, 2022, was rich in success (African Cup of Nations 2019, prestigious victories against many great African and South American nations, 35 games in a row without defeat) before experiencing a serious setback in Cameroon and then against Cameroon.
The second stage, meanwhile, began on June 4, 2022. Obviously Algeria is not starting from scratch, but the serious need for renewal has seen a first stage against Uganda. The victory (2-0) was undoubtedly important for the first qualifying day for the 2022 World Cup, but above all it had to lay the foundations for a new story.
We are nothing, and we will not be everything
The first lesson of this game was…off the field. The organization of the match at the Stade du 5 Juillet 1962 definitively ratified the farewell to a Mustapha Tchaker Stadium that had become very cumbersome for Algeria, as its deterioration contrasted with the lofty ambitions of the Greens. Although there were no crowds, the meeting was handled properly and the sale of tickets through the internet, which should be extended to all stadiums in the country, is a significant advance and should be welcomed. Flat, on the other hand, on the grass, inevitably worn by the multiplication of the matches that were played there.
Popular support, meanwhile, has been renewed for his team and his coach. If the sympathizers did not fill the venue, both because of the weakness of the adversary and because of the novelty that it constituted, they multiplied the songs of homage to Djamel Belmadi, Youcef Belaïli or to the homeland as a whole. This is probably the best way to get off to a good start for EN, who have already been forgiven for their two CAN failures and World Cup qualification.
The defense at 3, is it for later?
While it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions from a single meeting and in the absence of an undisputed starter like Riyad Mahrez, there have nonetheless been some signs of what Djamel Belmadi wants for the future.
The 4-3-3, the classic formation par excellence and used by the coach since its inception, will not be abandoned for many reasons. The first of them is that it is a fairly simple scheme for players to assimilate because it is usually used in clubs, which therefore facilitated their coordination and orientation. The second is that the animation assembled in this diagram gives great importance to the wingers and therefore allows Youcef Belaïli, man of the match, or Adam Ounas, author of an excellent tackle, to shine. The work of the wings, consequently, is greater and requires better coordination.
What areas of progress?
Obviously, the first release of this new EN was not going to be flashy. The rival, recognized for the quality of his defense, was not going to facilitate a river touchdown either. However, Algeria, although partly renewed, did not start from a blank page and, nevertheless, revealed its shortcomings.
The state of the grass did not facilitate the game, yes. But what can explain the few combinations between Bensebaïni and Belaïli, who know each other perfectly? Why did Zorgane, who is no newcomer to the Greens, have such a hard time fitting in alongside fellow countrymen and midfielders Bennacer and Zerrouki? How to explain the difficulty of the Algerians to make a well-organized pressure and corner their opponent?
The most contentious points are, in fact, the main areas of progress for Algeria. Some names (Bensebaïni, Ghezzal) have not been the authors of good performances while others (Slimani in particular) have for them the excuse of lack of physical form or the end of a difficult season.
For Djamel Belmadi, therefore, the essentials were secured against Uganda. However, it will be necessary to correct as soon as possible the weaknesses and errors seen, and that, for the most part, do not date from this match but from almost a year (the friendly match against Mali had highlighted them). It is through the game and the solidity of the project that we will find, as soon as possible, the heights of African football.
DZpie