Algeria 0-1 Slovenia

Preview, Stats, Report and Photos now available

With England and the USA favourites to come through Group C, both Algeria and Slovenia will want three points

Algeria could hardly have had a worse build-up to their first World Cup Finals match since 1986 after a grim warm-up programme and coach Rabah Saadane's decision to drop captain Yazid Mansouri for the first time.

Saadane believes most pundits regard his side as the weakest in Group C and that is understandable after a dismal 1-0 victory over the UAE ended a sequence of four successive defeats.

"The current team are in transition," explained the 64-year-old, in charge of the Desert Foxes for the fifth time. "They will be better in four years' time."

Defender Antar Yahia has replaced Mansouri as skipper, but has played down the appointment and insists the midfield player is still a key member of the squad.

"It's an honour and a real pleasure, but it takes a back seat," said Yahia. "What counts above all is our performance. As for Yazid, he remains our first captain. In the squad he's very important and very respected."

Defender Madjid Bougherra feels Algeria's progress at South Africa 2010 will be measured by Sunday's game in Polokwane, their first meeting with Slovenia.

"Slovenia are a new team, like us, so this game is going to be very decisive for us," said the Glasgow Rangers player. "After, we play England, who are one of the favourites for the World Cup, so if we win, it will give us confidence for the second game."

Slovenia also know they are not tipped to qualify for the last 16 from a group that also contains the USA, but Zlatko Dedic, their matchwinner in the shock play-off success against Russia, is not concerned.

"It is an extremely difficult group, but we know that in the World Cup there is no such thing as an easy group," said the Bochum striker. "We respect every opponent, but we are not afraid."

With Matjaz Kek able to pick a settled side and having enjoyed two comfortable victories in their build-up to South Africa 2010 against Qatar and New Zealand, in stark contrast to Algeria's problems, Slovenia will not have a better chance to score their first win of the Finals on only their second appearance.

GENERAL GAME STATS

Algeria 0-1 Slovenia

Slovenia managed to win their first ever World Cup game after Robert Koren's fortunate 79th minute finish saw them defeat Algeria

The 29-year-old hit a tame effort towards goal which Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi somehow managed to miss as he gifted Slovenia all three points.

The ball simply bounced through his arms into the back of the net to hand the lead to Slovenia, who managed to close out the encounter, aided and abetted by the fact Algeria had been reduced to 10 men when substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was dismissed for two bookable offences.

After England and USA drew the opening match in the group on Saturday evening, both sides had a glorious opportunity to defy the critics who suggest they will not qualify for the last 16.

However, this match was a terrible advert for football and an even worse advert for South Africa 2010.

Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic managed to acrobatically punch a Nadir Belhadj free-kick over his crossbar in the opening moments but the game soon plunged downhill.

With little fluidity or deft movement from either side, the match continued to merely amble along with no threats posed by either frontline.

As half-time approached, neither team looked prepared to go forward although after 36 minutes, the game finally got a talking point when Rafik Halliche should have given Algeria the lead.

He had a free header at a corner and although he rose highest, he could not steer his effort on target.

Soon after, Belhadj found Karim Matmour on the right wing but he could not control his shot as he blasted over while, at the other end, Chaouchi superbly tipped a Valter Birsa effort over the crossbar as the game seemed to finally awaken.

After the interval, quality remained thin on the ground as once again neither team had the necessary flair to break the other down.

Andraz Kirm curled one effort goalward for Slovenia that was comfortably saved by Chaouchi but it was all too flat and all too one-dimensional.

Ghezzal nodded over from close range for Algeria with 20 minutes to go and, shortly afterwards, he pointlessly handballed and was rightly dismissed for his second bookable offence.

Algeria's day then got worse as Koren stepped up and hit a speculative effort that Chaouchi missed as Slovenia got a huge slice of good fortune and they now top Group C as a result of this victory.