This tournament seems to love proving me and my erstwhile colleague wrong at every turn. Both of us we sure that Portugal led by an on form Cristiano Ronaldo would take this tournament by storm and would at least reach the quarter finals. Even though there is a minuscule chance for the Portuguese to make it to the next round if they manage to defeat Ghana soundly enough, one cannot help but feel that the result of this game on the 27th, at the Estudio Nacional in the Capital City of Brasilia will be largely immaterial. Because of the way the draw has played out both Germany and the USA will know that a tie, will see both teams go through.
One feels given the nature of the tournament and the German squad’s many injuries both teams would happily take a leisurely 0-0 draw. But I thought a bit more about this, and I realised that I had misread the narrative. This tournament is the opportunity for another plucky ‘underdog’ team to right the wrongs of yesteryear.
If the Germans were to draw their game they will be playing the runner up in Group H. The final placings in Group H are still to be decided but we know that the so called dark horses of the tournament Belgium are already through. The Belgians will also most likely finish top as they have collected 6 points and only have a very disappointing South Korea to play.
Currently the unfancied Algerians are in second place, and if form continues the way it has the Algerians should finish second quite easily. They beat the Koreans quite convincingly and were quite unlucky to lose to the Belgians in their first game. This would put them in place to meet the Germans. A team they have a 100% record against in World Cups.
In Spain 1982, the Algerians became the first African side to beat a European side at the World Cup. On their World Cup debut they won 2-1 against the mighty West Germany. But it is not the Germans who will be the ones seeking revenge for there is more to this story. The Algerians went on to lose to Austria. And defeated Chile (becoming the first African side to beat a South American team at the World Cup) and Germany and Austria scheduled to play the day after, knew that the Germans needed to win one or two nil for both Austria and Germany to qualify for the next round.
The match went on to be known as the ‘Shame of Cordoba’. Germany scored early and both teams basically played kick about for the rest of the game. The Spanish crowd roundly booed both teams. German and Austrian fans protested. Needless to say the brave Desert Foxes and their fans felt very hard done by. Complaints were made to FIFA but nothing could be proved. After this day it was decided the final group games would be played simultaneously.
The Algerians had made history for Africa and finished the tournament on 6 points but couldn’t become the first African team to make the second round at the world cup. That honour would go to their neighbours Morocco in the 1986 tournament in Mexico. The Desert Foxes would have to wait 28 years before qualifying again in 2010. They put on credible performance losing 1-0 to the USA and Slovenia and drawing England.
In 2014 they were up against at in qualifying losing 3-2 in the first leg against would be World Cup debutantes Burkina Faso. But Desert Foxes would beat the Stallions 1-0 on the return leg and go through on away goals. Now they face Russia, who have had a disappointing tournament so far. They know if they win they will get the opportunity to make amends for 32 years ago.
NineSixFourTwo 