Algeria

🌍 World Cup Story

Algeria's finest World Cup moment came in 2014 in Brazil — a stunning run to the round of 16 where they pushed eventual champions Germany to extra time, losing 2-1 in a pulsating match. That squad, led by Sofiane Feghouli and Riyad Mahrez, announced Algeria as a major African force. They were AFCON champions in 2019, with Mahrez — at Manchester City — at his peak. They missed 2022 in controversial circumstances (an alleged VAR error in a playoff against Cameroon denied them qualification). The pain of that near-miss has fuelled their return. Ismaël Bennacer (Milan) in midfield is one of Europe's best. Algeria vs France in Group I is a fixture with enormous political and historical significance given Algeria's colonial history with France.