Algeria deservedly make it out of the group stages at last, 32 years after West Germany and Austria denied them in Gijón at España 82
Alexander Kokorin scores the first goal for Russia. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images
Algerian football fans have waited a long time for this to come around. They've waited 32 years and one day, to be exact. For on 25 June 1982, West Germany and Austria played out the Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón – the non-aggression pact of Gijón – in which they slowed it down to stick with a 1-0 scoreline in favour of the Germans which saw both teams progress to the second round of España 82 at the expense of Algeria.
Algerian fans, not happy, with cash
Algerian fans, not happy, with cash
It's one of the great scandals in World Cup history, not least because Algeria were romantic favourites that year, having qualified for the finals for the first time, then beaten the Germans 2-1 in their opening match. The legendary Rabah Madjer and Lakhdar Belloumi scored the goals. This was an excellent team: witness Salah Assad finishing off a glorious pitch-long move in a win over Chile.
Algeria 82: excellent, all along the pitch
Algeria 82: excellent, all along the pitch
But two wins out of three wouldn't be enough for Algeria that year and – whisper it, because it doesn't quite fit in with the legend – they were architects of their own downfall. They had been 3-0 up at half time in that game against Chile, and if they'd kept a clean sheet, the West Germans would have had to beat Austria by a scoreline of at least 4-3 to stop them qualifying for the second round. But they could only hold on for a 3-2 win, leaving the door ajar. Which isn't to excuse what West Germany and Austria eventually did – Rob Smyth tells the story in loving detail here – but the bottom line is, you can't be relying on other teams to do you favours. Ever. What a harsh lesson.
But here we are today, and Algeria are on the cusp of making it to the second round at last. And this time, their fate is in their own hands. They were scintillating in a 4-2 thrashing of South Korea at the weekend, and now a draw against Russia will see them through.
As for Russia? The minute they bring something to the table at this World Cup is the minute they get proper attention in a preamble. Suffice to say the most entertainment they've provided is the chance to see Fabio Capello – five Serie A titles, two La Liga medals, and a Champions League on his CV – quietly seethe on the touchline as his side bumble to lacklustre draws and late defeats. The World Cup is kryptonite to him.
Russian football, in more exciting, albeit politically different, times (and yes Oleh Blokhin is from Ukraine, but the shirt was the main motivation behind this)
Russian football, in more exciting, albeit politically different, times (and yes Oleh Blokhin is from Ukraine, but the shirt was the main motivation behind this)
Still, a win tonight will see the Russians through, unless South Korea do something utterly preposterous against Belgium. Can Russia guarantee some hot preamble action in the second round? Or will Algeria finally right the wrongs of 1982, and make it to the knockout stages? It's all to play for. It's in the balance. It's on!
Kick off: 9pm in London, 5pm in Curitiba, midnight in Moscow, 9pm in Algiers
Updated at 8.15pm BST
Cast and crew
Algeria make only one change from the XI who conquered South Korea, Madjid Bougherra making way for Essaid Belkalem: M'Bolhi, Mandi, Belkalem, Halliche, Mesbah, Medjani, Bentaleb, Feghouli, Brahimi, Djabou, Slimani.
Subs: Si Mohamed, Bougherra, Ghoulam, Yebda, Lacen, Ghilas, Soudani, Zemmamouche, Cadamuro, Taider, Mahrez, Mostefa.
Russia replace Maxim Kanunnikov with veteran striker Alexander Kerzhakov: Akinfeev, Kozlov, Berezutski, Ignashevich, Kombarov, Glushakov, Fayzulin, Samedov, Kokorin, Shatov, Kerzhakov.
Subs: Lodygin, Shchennikov, Semenov, Kanunnikov, Denisov, Dzagoev, Granat, Mogilevets, Ryzhikov, Zhirkov, Ionov, Eshchenko.
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey)
The teams are out! Algeria in white and green, Russia in red. And then time for the national anthems. Algeria's brassy number could, in a parallel universe, be the national anthem of Yorkshire. T'one, t'two, t'one, two, three:
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯ فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا... فاشهدوا ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯
Russia's meanwhile is one of the classics, reminiscent of the times when people shared stuff around.
♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯ Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой! ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯
And we're off! Algeria get the ball rolling. If they get through tonight, they'll most likely play Germany. Payback time for 1982? First things first, though. The opening exchanges are exactly that, possession shifting between teams a couple of times as everyone gets a feel of the ball.
3 min: Algeria played some very pretty football against South Korea at the weekend, but they also liked to launch it occasionally, and with extreme prejudice. M'Bolhi larrups a goal kick straight down the middle, and Feghouli nearly breaks clear on goal. Russia have their offside trap sorted, though. Just. Fabio Capello could have been forgiven for shuddering as memories of England's park-standard defending against Germany in 2010 came momentarily flooding back.
5 min: Feghouli has been clattered upside the head. Didn't see how that occurred. Suffice to say nobody seems particularly animated, so it will almost certainly have been an accident. He trots off to get the flow of blood streaming from his noggin stemmed. We'll see him again in a minute or two, writes Dr Murray, the Guardian quack who has no idea.
GOAL!!! Algeria 0-1 Russia (Kokorin 6)
What a header this is! Shatov makes space for himself down the left, and whips a high ball into the Algerian box. Kokorin rises high, and plants an unstoppable header into the top left from 12 yards! Not entirely sure what the Algerian defenders were doing, but that was a crafty late run into the area from the striker, and a hell of a jump. That header was placed right in the corner, too. Russia are now in second spot, and Algeria's World Cup nightmare continues. As it stands, of course.
Russia's Alexander Kokorin heads Russia into the lead. Photograph: DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Russia's Alexander Kokorin heads Russia into the lead. Photograph: DAMIR SAGOLJ/REUTERS
Updated at 9.46pm BST
9 min: Algeria are somewhat stunned by that. Feghouli could be forgiven for being stunned too. He'd clashed heads with his own man, Medjani, and though he's back on, that wound was shipping blood for quite a while. He's back on now.
11 min: Russia look in total control right now. They're happy to cede possession to Algeria, because the Africans are doing nowt with it right now. Russia holding their shape very well, as you'd expect a Fabio Capello team not called England to do.
13 min: Feghouli, now fully recovered, dances around in front of the Russian box, but goes nowhere. Then Brahimi bombs down the inside-right channel and reaches the byline, firing a low cross into the six-yard box which Akinfeev just about deals with. The first promising act of the match for the Algerians.
16 min: Samedov goes on a quick romp down the middle of the park. Bentaleb knocks him to the ground. From the free kick, Glushakov jigs down the left channel and into the area. He drops a shoulder, and very nearly busts himself clear on goal. But the ball clanks between his feet and Belkalem can shepherd the ball back to M'Bolhi.
18 min: Russia are beginning to impose themselves on this match. Kozlov would be clear down the right had he not slipped over on greasy turf. Another phase. Samedov down the same wing. The ball's whipped in towards Kokorin, who can't replicate his goalscoring heroics, eyebrowing the cross out of play to the left of goal from a fairly promising position.
20 min: Samedov goes on another ramble down the right, cutting inside and trying to send Kerzhakov clear with a little reverse pass down the channel and into the box. The Russian striker's offside. Russia were bloody hopeless in their first two games, and what's a bigger crime in my book, boring to boot. But they've been adventurous and cute in this match so far, and that's since getting the goal they needed too. Very promising from their perspective. Algeria need to get their gamefaces on, and quick.
22 min: Medjani attempts to pitching-wedge a pass down the left for Djabou. He pulls out the 4-iron, however, and the ball whistles into the crowd behind the goal.
24 min: More of the red stuff is gushing out of Feghouli's noggin. He's already got a tight white bandage wrapped around his neep. Algeria will be desperate to ensure running repairs are sufficient until the break. Feghouli probably needs a stitch or two, but they don't want to lose their man for any stretch of time, especially as they conceded the goal while he was off the pitch in the first instance.
Sofiane Feghouli sports a nasty wound. Photograph: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Sofiane Feghouli sports a nasty wound. Photograph: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Updated at 9.45pm BST
26 min: Shatov picks up the ball to the left of the centre circle, and embarks on a huge semi-circular run infield. When he reaches the edge of the Algerian D, he unleashes a spectacular swerving, dipping shot towards the top right. M'Bolhi pretends he had it covered, but he's a lying get. That was whistling in if on target, but it curls inches wide of the right-hand post.
27 min: Mesbah, making good down the left, takes a shot goalwards from distance. It wafts, rather than zips, towards Akinfeev, who gathers with a yawn.
28 min: Feghouli in in a little space near the Russian box. He lays off to Brahimi, who hesitates. Djabou was in acres down the left, but Brahimi is crowded out. Chance gone.
29 min: But Algeria are getting back into this. They win a corner down the left. The ball's thrown into the mixer. A flick on, and Slimani is able to wind his neck back before powering a header from a standing start, 12 yards out, towards the top right. Akinfeev is forced to tip over in the 'Spectacular' style. But it's all for naught, because there's been some minor infringement or other. Not sure what for, to be perfectly honest. Algeria seem similarly perplexed.
31 min: A penalty shout for Algeria, as Kozlov attempts to divest Slimani of both his shirt and socks, as the striker spins through 180 degrees to the left of goal with a view to getting a shot away. Kozlov gets away with it: no penalty, and Slimani's stopped in his tracks. To be fair to the Russian full back, he didn't try to make off with either of Slimani's socks or boots, and we're also assuming that, if the tangle had continued any longer, he'd have also allowed the Algerian to keep his y-fronts on.
Fabio Capello clearly had his eyes closed when getting dressed, so what's the hope he saw the penalty shout? Photograph: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Fabio Capello clearly had his eyes closed when getting dressed, so what's the hope he saw the penalty shout? Photograph: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Updated at 9.58pm BST
34 min: A bit of space for Brahimi in the middle of the park. He sends a daisy-bothering low roller towards the bottom left. Akinfeev gathers a shot that wasn't hit with any particular conviction, and certainly no pace.
36 min: Bentaleb and Djabou one-two down the left, but the latter is flagged offside just as he romps off into space just outside the Russian area. Another move that comes to nothing, but Algeria are showing promise right now, their midfielders in the ascendency and playing with no little sass.
38 min: A free kick for Russia to the left of the centre circle. Kombarov hoicks the ball straight out of play to the right of the goal. Russia have been going nowhere fast for a while.
40 min: This is better from Russia, with Kerzhakov dropping a shoulder down the right and making off for the Algerian area. Mesbah opts to drag him down, and he's booked. No complaint, which is good of him. Kombarov takes the set piece, and this one is no use either, floated onto the head of Halliche, six yards out. The defender rams a clearing header upfield.
42 min: Djabou snaps at the heels of Kozlov down the Algerian left, as the Russian full back looks to shield the ball. It's magnificent pestering, and forces Kozlov into giving away a corner. Brahimi whips the set piece into the box. Slimani again meets the ball 12 yards out, but slaps a witless header straight at Akinfeev. He could have picked either side of the goal there. Very poor.
45 min: A free kick for Algeria down the left. Chance to load the box. Algeria do so. Brahimi curls the ball in, and it's met by Belkalem, level with the left-hand post, just inside the area. The ball flies harmlessly over the crossbar.
HALF TIME: Algeria 0-1 Russia
Kerzhakov powers into the Algerian box down the inside-left, chasing a sliderule pass from Shatov. He toes it on the stretch, harmlessly, to M'Bolhi. And that's it for the opening 45. A pretty damn interesting game, if not quite a seat-of-the-trousers classic. Russia deserve their lead, and as things stand are going through to the second round along with Belgium. But Algeria have shown enough wit in attack to suggest they can get back into this, and claim the draw they require. Should be a very decent second half.
Half-time entertainment: A biters' XI, courtesy of everyone's favourite list-making obsessive, Mac Millings. God alone knows why he's suddenly come up with this idea.
Guillermo Ochewa
Plaquey Charlton
Root Canalan Ball
Daniel Van Biting
Stephen Appiah-tite
Paul Ince-isor
Nitrous Oxide-Chamberlain
Steve MandiBull
Molar Matthäus
Dentist Bergchomp
Socrateeth
The teams are out! And, furthermore, about. No changes for Algeria. Russia make a switch, though, replacing Glushakov with Denisov. They're 45 minutes away from a second-round tie with Germany.
46 min: Algeria start the half on the front foot, pinging the ball around at pace, albeit with not much direction right now.
47 min: Samedov races into acres of space down the inside right. What are Algeria up to? Their defence is all over the shop! Samedov exchanges the simplest of one-twos with Kokorin, in order to circumvent Halliche, Algeria's last man. He's clear in the area! But his attempt to lift the ball over M'Bolhi is blocked brilliantly by the keeper. Algeria owe their goalie a big one.
49 min: Brahimi goes on a whizz down the left. Denisov, perhaps not up to speed yet, clips him to the ground. He's lucky not to go in the book, to be quite honest. From the free kick, launched into the area, the ball's bundled out for a corner on the right. That's sent whistling through the six-yard box, but Akinfeev punches clear. Danger over for now. A strange start to the half, with Algeria doing most of the pressing, but having come closest to conceding.
51 min: Algeria look a bit light at the back, perhaps rolling the dice a bit too soon. No need to get desperate yet. Kerzhakov sashays in from the right and launches a shot that's deflected off Medjani's back and out of play on the left for a corner. The set piece nearly finds its way to Kokorin on the penalty spot, but the ball's just behind him, and Algeria clear. This is open as you like. Maybe a bit more open than Fabio Capello and Vahid Halilhodzic like, but they're not paying punters, so.
54 min: Kerzhakov in a lot of space down the right. Algeria are playing a dangerous game here. He zips into the area and flicks a ball inside with a view to finding Kokorin, but Belkalem clears. The Africans are not the model of solidity right now. Another goal, and you'd imagine they'd be going home after the first round yet again.
56 min: Oh Mandi! A Barry Manilow earworm for you there, and news of a stunning cross from the Algerian full back, who chases a lost cause down the right and manages to whip a cross into the middle seconds before it rolls out of play. Slimani is ready to head home from ten yards, but Ignashevich eyebrows away at the death. Brilliant defending, or Algeria were level.
58 min: Kombarov is booked for a cynical tug on Feghouli down the right. The free kick's whipped to the far post, where Slimani heads weakly goalwards, Kombarov having made a nuisance of himself.
59 min: Both Russian full backs are in the book now. Kozlov is rightly shown the yellow card for some light rugby-union shenanigans on Djabou down the left. Another free kick in a dangerous position. From which ...
GOAL!!! Algeria 1-1 Russia (Slimani 60)
The free kick's effectively a corner on the left. Djabou loops it to the far post. Akinfeev comes out to claim, but flaps, his second rick of the tournament after his misdemeanour against South Korea. Slimani is up, and heads into the unguarded net. Algeria are bound for the second round right now!
A laser pointer is aimed at Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Photograph: CJ GUNTHER/EPA
Moments later, Akinfeev fails to gather a cross and Slimani heads home. Photograph: PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
A laser pointer is aimed at Russia's goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Photograph: CJ GUNTHER/EPAMoments later, Akinfeev fails to gather a cross and Slimani heads home. Photograph: PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 10.35pm BST
62 min: Fayzulin, 25 yards out to the right of the D, looks for the bottom left with a fizzer. It's a fine, clean strike, and M'Bolhi fumbles. The ball rebounds a good ten yards away from the keeper, but he does well to spring up and smother before Kerzhakov can have a whack at goal. Meanwhile James Arrandale would like some of that hot half-time Millings action. Here's the latest biting satire:
Tore Andre Floss
Dmitri Canine
Canine Dalglish
Kyle Gnaw-ton
64 min: Djabou cuts inside from the left and has a good old whack. The shot's straight at Akinfeev, who makes a light snack, if not a meal, of repelling. "Can I nominate Jim M(a)cLean(s) as manager of the Biters XI," writes Simon McMahon, squeezing every last drop out of this particular tube. And bringing things back to Dundee United, as usual.
66 min: Kokorin goes up with M'Bolhi. The keeper crumbles to the ground as if dead. He is not dead. Kokorin attempts to pick him to the floor, and there's a minor brouhaha, but it's over as quickly as it begins. Shame, I do enjoy a good donnybrook. What I'd give for a bench-emptying brawl in this World Cup. The Suarez controversy just doesn't energise me one bit. Bench-emptying brawl, please, everyone! Preferably featuring one or two heavyweight haymakers, but I'll settle for a few rough slaps. Anyway, I digress.
68 min: Dzagoev is on for every schoolchild's favourite, Shatov.
70 min: Kerzhakov has been very lively down this right channel. He drops a shoulder as he enters the box, and launches a low heatseeker towards the bottom left. M'Bolhi gets down to smother well. That was a very decent shot. This game is far from over. It's providing excellent drama.
71 min: Brahimi goes off, with Yebda coming on.
73 min: Feghouli in a little space down the inside-right channel. He sends a rising shot towards the top right, from a tight angle. Akinfeev parries, and claims, but he really isn't looking too steady. "That half-time list. Shouldn't it have come from Mac Fillings?" Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for Tracy Mohr! Try the fluoride.
76 min: Space for Samedov down the right, where Russia have been enjoying themselves against the booked Mesbah. His low cross nearly finds Kerzhakov, but is deflected behind the striker and hoofed clear. Time is running out for the 2018 hosts, but they're not betraying any feelings of desperation yet. They keep plugging away.
77 min: Ghilas comes on for Yebda. "Bench-emptying brawls (66 min) will be coming in the next few rounds," promises Paulo Padilha, "as South American teams play each other. They'll be getting into what we in Brazil like to call 'the Libertadores spirit', which involves some rough tackling, lots of complaining, and the inevitable punch-up around the 88th minute." This is music to my ears. I can hardly sit still now.
Updated at 10.36pm BST
80 min: Nothing's really coming off for either side right now. Russia try to spring Kokorin into the area down the centre of the park, but the striker miscontrols. Then Kozlov takes a throw deep in his own half, and steals so many yards the referee awards one to Algeria instead. Everyone's noggin has gone, as the business end of this match approaches.
81 min: The last roll of the dice by Fabio Capello, who replaces Kerzhakov with Kanunnikov.
82 min: Russia waste a corner from the left by blootering it straight through the Algerian box and out of play. On the touchline, Capello wears a look best described as pensive.
84 min: Belgium are 1-0 up against South Korea now. What a game that sounds like. It's good news for both Algeria and Russia, though, as it categorically writes South Korea out of the picture. They're doing one! Russia, of course, still need a goal themselves, but this pretty much ensures things won't get complicated.
85 min: Algeria are, quite understandably having waited 32 years for this, are sitting back, keeping what they have. It's therefore attack versus defence. Russia aren't doing much with all the possession. They keep pinging the ball around, only for an Algerian boot to interject and skelp it back upfield.
87 min: Ghilas is booked for an astonishingly agricultural lunge on Kombarov down the Russian left, level with the front of the box. It's a free kick in a very dangerous position. You can feel the tension halfway around the world. You can certainly hear the whistles. Kanunnikov lumps a hopeless ball straight down M'Bolhi's throat. The keeper couldn't have asked for anything more. What abject uselessness from Russia.
89 min: Whistles pinging off the stands. It's all Russia. Algeria are holding a firm white-and-green line across the front of their area. Kombarov romps down the left and wins a corner. Samedov flips it into the area, and Kozlov heads wide right. He's been fouling, anyway, and the whistle goes. "Lev Gnashing," suggests Peter Nockolds from Moscow, while he can, while Russia is still relevant.
90 min: There will be three added minutes.
90 min +1: Slimani makes way, very slowly, for Soudani. At the restart, M'Bolhi nervously hacks the ball out of play on the left. It nestles in the Algerian dugout, and one of the chaps within hoicks the ball into the crowd! It's Cadamuro! He's booked.
90 min +2: There will be one more minute of added time, thanks to those touchline shenanigans.
90 min +3: Algeria are buying free kicks in the middle of the park, it's very clever play. Russia have lost their discipline. This is surely over.
FULL TIME: Algeria 1-1 Russia
32 years and one day of hurt never stopped them dreaming! Algeria have finally made it to the second round of a World Cup! It was a thoroughly deserved result, too, responding to Russia's fine performance in the first half with an equally impressive one in the second. They kept plugging away, pinging their passes around without ever becoming desperate, and earned the equaliser their play deserved with plenty of time to spare. Whereupon they shut up shop magnificently. A small bit of controversy (copyright the 2010s) as Akinfeev appears to have had a green laser pointer trained on him just before the goal, but that's no excuse for him to start running around flapping like George Costanza in The Puerto Rican Day. This is all about Algeria, who progress from the group stage at last. Their second-round opponents, 32 years after West Germany and Austria denied them in Gijón at España 82? Why, Germany of course!
read more : http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/26/algeria-russia-world-cup-2014-group-h-mbm
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