2026 World Cup: Algeria eliminated, the culprits identified?

Algeria hoped to get through against a Swiss side considered to be well within their reach. But Vladimir Petkovic’s team was defeated by a Swiss team that was more disciplined and more effective at key moments. This match also marked the final international appearance of Riyad Mahrez, who announced his retirement from international football right after the elimination. The captain admitted that his team paid dearly for a few individual errors on chances they could have avoided conceding.

Aïssa Mandi, also bitter, explained that his side had actually started the match well, before falling apart after conceding the opening goal, which subsequently weighed on the team’s morale for the rest of the game. The defender, who also announced the end of his international career in the aftermath, acknowledged the difficulty in analyzing a defeat he attributes largely to a lack of efficiency, both in front of goal and in managing decisive moments.

On the technical staff side, Petkovic’s assistant, Davide Morandi, put the record in perspective by estimating that the team hadn’t failed across the board and had troubled the Swiss on several occasions, stressing the very high level of opponents faced during the competition.

The Algerian press harsh towards the defense

While the technical staff is trying to put things in perspective, the local press is much more critical. As the national team leaves the competition after a mixed tournament in which it conceded 9 goals in 4 matches, the defense proved too porous, a problem not unique to the match against Switzerland but which characterized the entire Algerian campaign.

Several players particularly underperformed. Aïssa Mandi, involved in the Swiss opening goal, made a series of poor decisions, with his experience not enough to make up for a clearly fatigued physical condition.

Rafik Belghali and Ramy Bensebaini are also not spared from criticism, both being too soft defensively to make the difference in this game. In goal, the goalkeeper question remains unresolved, with none of the keepers used during the tournament having fully convinced.

Nevertheless, it was the entire collective balance that broke down. In midfield, Ramiz Zerrouki, Nabil Bentaleb, and Farès Chaïbi showed both a lack of speed and accuracy in decision-making.

Petkovic, the main target?

Beyond the players, Vladimir Petkovic’s responsibility is increasingly being questioned. His tactical choices have been regularly criticized throughout the competition, and a portion of the Algerian media and supporters is now calling for his departure. The situation is all the more delicate since the coach was recently given a contract extension by the Algerian Football Federation (FAF), which will now have to decide on his future.