Algeria staged a second-half comeback in the World Cup to deny Jordan their first win, securing Lionel Messi’s Argentina as winners of Group J. Jordan, in their debut tournament, was beaten 3-1 by Austria but showed resilience in their second match. They took an initial lead despite being outplayed in the first half.
Nizar Al-Rashdan scored after Musa Al-Taamari’s miskick rolled to him, although Algeria’s goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of Zinedine Zidane, did get a hand to it but could not stop it. Jordan had a chance to win the group by defeating Argentina in the final round, but goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri provided Algeria with a 2-1 victory, their first at a World Cup in 12 years, confirming Argentina’s top spot.
Did Algeria Deserve the Win?
Algeria consistently pressured throughout the match. They could have scored multiple times before Jordan found the net against the run of play. Long balls aimed at Riyad Mahrez often resulted in near-scoring opportunities, but credit is due to Jordan’s defense and goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila for maintaining a strong, organized defense.
Algeria missed several chances during dynamic plays, but set pieces made the difference with both goals stemming from corners. Gouiri was quick to react to second balls, securing the winning goal. Algeria appeared more complete from defense to attack, except for Zidane’s contribution to Jordan’s opener. Algeria deserved the win, but Jordan’s determination was commendable.
Statistical analysis supports Algeria’s victory. Their expected goals value was more than double that of Jordan, with statistics showing 17 shots for Algeria compared to 8 from Jordan, and 71% possession for Algeria.
Should Zidane Have Stopped Jordan’s Goal?
Luca Zidane hoped for a strong performance following a challenging debut against Argentina. Jordan’s goal represented a recurring issue for Zidane as he failed to fully repel Al-Rashdan’s shot which nestled in the net. The shot squeezed through Rayan Ait-Nouri’s legs, and Zidane’s attempt to save was inadequate. He faced similar difficulties against Argentina, being unable to stop goals from Messi and Mac Allister.
Despite a good save against Lautaro Martinez, and a history of impressive performances since debuting in World Cup qualifiers, Zidane faced challenges in the tournament. However, he played against Jordan without the facial mask he needed due to a prior jaw injury.
On the other side, Jordan’s Abulaila exemplified strong save techniques until Algeria increased pressure. He failed to block Benbouali’s header and reacted slowly to Gouiri’s follow-up.
Impact on Messi and Argentina
Algeria’s comeback not only boosted their World Cup aspirations but also confirmed Messi’s Argentina as Group J winners. Jordan’s chance to top the group with a win over Algeria and then Argentina was nullified. As a result, Jordan is now out of the tournament. Algeria will face Austria on the final day, with the winner finishing second and heading to Los Angeles on July 6 to face group H winners. Currently, Spain leads that group with Uruguay in second place.
If the third-place team shows a strong enough record, they may play group winners from other groups in cities like Atlanta, Kansas City, or Vancouver. This will be clarified over the weekend.
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