Algeria’s Belhadj ready to feed misfiring strikers

Algeria have taken11 goals to one scored in their last five games, but defender Nadir Belhadj is confident the ‘Desert Foxes’ can turn around their toothless attacking play at the World Cup.

Algeria beat the United Arab Emirates 1-0 at the weekend to break a losing spell going back to their 4-0 loss to Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Angola in January.

They were handed a 3-0 trouncing by Ireland in another warm-up game, where their defence failed to cope with the Irish long ball.

The Algerians now face Slovenia in their first Group C clash in Polokwane on Sunday, with pool rivals England and the United States playing a day earlier.

Asked whether Slovenia were the best first-up opponents, Portsmouth’s Belhadj said: “I don’t know if it’s ideal. The Slovenians know one another very well and all the teams here deserve their place.

“But we are increasing in power. On Sunday, you’ll see a very good match against Slovenia.

“At the African Nations Cup, Rafik Djebbour wasn’t there and Abdelkader Ghezzal was all alone up front,” he said of two of Algeria’s misfiring strike team.

“But now they’re really starting to understand one another. Above all, they mustn’t doubt themselves and us, well we must do everything to feed them more because at the moment we don’t do it enough.”

Belhadj justified his team management’s decision to base the squad in the relatively out-of-the-way but picturesque town of Margate, a 90-minute drive down the coast from Durban.

“All the better if we’re out of the way,” he said. “During other training camps there were lots of people at each one and you saw how it all went.

“It’s better to be isolated for a few days before the start of a tournament.”

He added: “We feel happy and we feel good to be at the World Cup. The training grounds are top-notch and training conditions are very good.

“Now we have to show that on the pitch.”