Algeria National Team Preview and Odds to Win the Group H

One of the longshots to win the 2014 World Cup is Algeria. They will begin play in Group H along with Belgium, Russia and South Korea. Algeria didn’t even make the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations but they turned things around to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

Check out the latest World Cup odds available at BetPhoenix sportsbook.

Algeria is one of the longest shots on the board at World Cup odds of 1500-1. They are also a longshot to win Group H at odds of about 22-1. The only positive for the team is that Group H is considered one of the weakest of the groups at the 2014 World Cup.

If Algeria is to have any success at the 2014 World Cup they will need players like Saphir Taider and Ishak Belfodil to play really well. They will also need Sofiane Feghouli to score some goals. The leading goal scorer for the team in qualifying was Islam Slimani. If he and Feghouli can provide some offense then this team has a chance to surprise in Group H.

Algergia is managed by Vahid Halilhodzic who took over in 2011. He was fired by Ivory Coast just three months before the 2010 World Cup so he never had a chance to lead that team. He has plenty of experience having coached at PSG, and in other places like Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Algeria made the 2014 World Cup by winning a playoff against Burkina Faso. They actually won two matches in the 1982 World Cup but they still didn’t make it out of the group stage as they lost in goal differential. Algeria did not win a match in 1986 or in 2010.

Schedule

17 June 2014

Belgium vs. Algeria, Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte

22 June 2014

South Korea vs. Algeria, Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre

26 June 2014

Algeria vs. Russia, Arena da Baixada, Curitiba

Picks

Even though Group H is weak it is hard to see Algeria doing enough to get past either Belgium or Russia and into the round of 16.