Algeria and Jordan chase first World Cup points in Group J clash after opening defeats
Both teams lost their opening matches and now face a must-win encounter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Lineups and tactics
Algeria coach Vladimir Petković makes two changes after the 3-0 loss to Argentina, bringing in midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki and forward Riyad Mahrez, who captains the side. Nabil Bentaleb and Anis Hadj Moussa drop to the bench. Mohamed Amoura misses out entirely through injury. Four Bundesliga players start: Ramy Bensebaini, Ibrahim Maza, Farès Chaïbi and Rayan Aït-Nouri. Jordan counterpart Jamal Sellami also adjusts his eleven, starting Hossam Abu Dahab and Mahmoud Al Mardi in place of Abu Al Nadi and Odeh Al Fakhouri. The official lineups confirm a 4-3-3 for Algeria with Mahrez and Amine Gouiri flanking Maza in attack, while Jordan deploy a 4-4-2 spearheaded by Ali Olwan and Mousa Al-Tamari.
Path to this match
Algeria’s World Cup return ended painfully. A Farès Chaïbi goal was ruled out for offside in the 8th minute, then Lionel Messi took over, completing a hat-trick within 90 minutes to hand the reigning champions a comfortable victory. Jordan, making their tournament debut, conceded early when Romano Schmid put Austria ahead after 20 minutes. Olwan equalised shortly after the restart but an own goal by Yazan Al-Arab and a late Marko Arnautović penalty sealed a 3-1 defeat for the world’s 68th-ranked side.
Quotes from the camp
The Algerian boss refused to panic after the Argentina loss.We want to do everything to keep our destiny in our hands and deliver a performance worthy of that goal.
We played well, but we were punished by individual technical feats from Lionel Messi. We are all aware that it was not a match we absolutely had to win at all costs.
What’s at stake
Both sides trail Argentina and Austria, who already have three points apiece. A second defeat would leave the loser on the brink of elimination from the knockout race. Algeria last reached the last 16 in 2014 and cannot afford to rely on favours from other results. Jordan, meanwhile, are chasing a first World Cup win in their history. The match is widely seen as a duel for third place in the group, with the winner keeping alive a realistic path to the round of 16.
