Russia vs Algeria Prediction – June 26
The Desert Eagles of Algeria will enter Thursday’s match with the most somber of game-faces slapped on their mugs; it might be the most important match in Algerian footballing history. [ad-1519080]
Date/Time: Thursday, June 26 2014, 4 pm EST
Venue: Arena de Baixada, Curitiba Brazil
Algeria -130, Russia +110
MoneyLine: Algeria +220, Russia +110
Over/Under: 2.5
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A win or a draw for Algeria will send them to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history. For Russia’s part, they will also be looking to sneak into the knockout stage. Belgium is already in from Group H, so this contest can decide who slides in to join them in the next stage of the World Cup.
Les Fennecs will be motivated by a very strong Group stage performance to date. Only the Netherlands, Colombia and France have scored more goals in the tournament than Algeria. They came up short against Belgium, but beat South Korea convincingly and have scored five times in their first two contests.
Creative players like Islam Slimani, Sofiane Feghouli and Yacine Brahimi will be instrumental to Algeria’s attack against the Russians. Russia manager Fabio Capello will be familiar with Algeria, having faced them while guiding England.
It will be interesting to see how those three aforementioned players will deal with Denis Glushakov, whose job is to sit in front of Russia’s back four and stymie Algeria’s creative midfielders.
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Conversely, Capello knows that his side doesn’t have the luxury of drawing this game and moving on – they have to win. Capello must turn his attackers loose; he’ll lean on Alan Dzagoev, Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Aleksandr Kokorin to put Russia on the scoresheet.
Algeria has conceded two goals per match in the tournament, so it’s not like their defending and goalkeeping are impregnable. Russia’s dynamic trio should be able to find some daylight in Algeria’s back four and assert themselves.
Oleg Shatov, Russia’s play-wielding midfielder, has lacked imagination to this point. He may be replaced by Dzagoev. Whatever last-minute changes are made must bear fruit if Russia are to advance to the knock-out stage.
The worry for Russia, however, is that in their frenzied efforts to score, they will expose themselves to the counter-attack. Algeria can be very dangerous on the counter and they have the luxury of some options in terms of the match’s result.
Les Fennecs intend to attack from the get-go, but a match with so much tactical rigidity can often result in quick swings, if things don’t go according to plan.
Capello’s tactical tunnel-vision ended up being his downfall as England manager and it might be history repeating in his stewardship of Russia. The manager has no choice but to be attacking in this match, so we’ll see how adaptation suits the veteran manager.
World Cup Prediction
I could see Algeria scoring early, but Russia battling back in the course of the game and getting on the scoresheet. A draw could be likely, which will be good news for Les Fennecs but disastrous for the Russians.
If that result occurs, there will be a healthy amount of partying in Algiers this weekend.
Algeria 1, Russia 1
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