SK Punang

Algeria

The Desert Foxes are making their third appearance in the World Cup, the first since 1986. In 1982, Algeria pulled off a huge upset, defeating the reigning European champion, West Germany, by 2-1. But that tournament ended with the North Africans as victims of scandal. They did not advance from group play after the Germans defeated Austria, 1-0, in a match that was apparently fixed to allow the two European squads to move on at the expense of Algeria. Since then, FIFA, soccer's world governing body, has mandated that the final group matches at the World Cup be played simultaneously to avoid such conspiratorial shenanigans.

Algeria qualified for the 2010 World Cup with a playoff victory against Egypt, the African champion. In an earlier match that led to the playoff, the Algerian team bus was pelted with stones in Cairo, leaving three players to be treated for cuts.

The incident brought the continuation of a long-running soccer feud between the two nations. After a qualifying match before the 1990 World Cup, a postmatch brawl left the Egyptian team doctor without sight in one eye.

Algeria is considered the weakest of the six African teams participating in this World Cup. But it did defeat the Ivory Coast, considered the strongest of the continent's teams behind striker Didier Drogba, in January during the African Cup of Nations.

A victory in the opening match against Slovenia would seem to be mandatory for Algeria to have any chance of advancing. Its strength will be its defense, led by center back Madjid Bougherra of Glasgow Rangers. Goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi is banned until Algeria's final group match against the United States after head-butting the referee during an African Cup of Nations match. Midfielder Karim Ziani had a disappointing season with Wolfsburg of Germany's Bundesliga, but he can be threatening on the wing. Coach Rabah Saadane brought seven uncapped players into his provisional roster to try to fortify his team.