Algeria staged a successful comeback in the second half to prevent Jordan from securing their first World Cup victory, ultimately confirming Lionel Messi’s Argentina as the winners of Group J. Jordan, new to the tournament, impressed in their debut by holding their ground against Austria before being defeated 3-1. In their second appearance, Jordan demonstrated resilience by taking an early lead, despite being outplayed for most of the first half. Nizar Al-Rashdan’s precise finish with the outside of his foot gave Jordan the advantage, following a missed kick by Musa Al-Taamari that set up the opportunity. Algeria’s goalkeeper, Luca Zidane—son of the French legend Zinedine—made contact with the ball but couldn’t halt its progress.
At that moment, Jordan still had a technical chance to win the group by defeating Argentina in the final round of games. However, goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri led Algeria to a 2-1 victory, marking their first World Cup win in twelve years and ensuring Messi and his team would progress as the group leaders. The analysis by The Athletic’s Charlotte Harpur and Laurie Whitwell highlights the significant aspects of the match.
Did Algeria Deserve the Win?
Throughout the match, Algeria consistently pressured Jordan, frequently targeting their captain, Riyad Mahrez, with long balls over the top. Despite perfectly timing his runs, Mahrez was unable to capitalize due to persistent defensive efforts by Jordan, including notable performance from goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila. The Jordanian defense showed discipline, organization, and resilience.
Despite Algeria’s impressive sequences in passing, they initially struggled to convert their chances into goals. Ironically, their goals came from set pieces, specifically corners, which made the difference. Once Algeria equalized, they appeared more likely to score again, as Jordan’s intensity waned and they fell deeper into defensive tactics. Gouiri’s quick reaction to secure the winning goal should be acknowledged, as it proved decisive.
Algeria displayed more cohesion across the field, excluding Zidane’s unsuccessful attempt to stop Jordan’s opener, and appear capable of challenging future opponents. Although Algeria claimed a deserved victory, Jordan’s tenacious performance should not be overlooked. Statistical data supports Algeria’s supremacy, with their expected goals value more than double Jordan’s (1.8-0.7). Algeria had double the shots (17-8), twice the shots on target (8-4), and dominated possession and territorial control. While football can be unpredictable, in this match, the superior team prevailed.
Should Zidane Have Stopped Jordan’s Goal?
Luca Zidane aimed to deliver a robust performance following a challenging World Cup debut against Argentina. A recurring issue emerged with Jordan’s goal, where Zidane managed to get a hand to Al-Rashdan’s strike but could not thwart it entirely, allowing the ball to nestle into the net, granting Jordan a lead. The shot, passing through Rayan Ait-Nouri’s legs, seemed within Zidane’s reach for a complete save.
Previously, Zidane faced a similar situation during Messi’s first goal against Argentina, where he failed to redirect the ball despite contacting it with both hands. Later in the match, he was unable to prevent Messi from scoring again after spilling Mac Allister’s long-range shot to Messi’s advantage. Notably, Zidane’s father, Zinedine Zidane, attended that particular game.
Zidane showcased skill by successfully blocking a strike from Lautaro Martinez in the same match, maintaining a commendable record post his World Cup qualifier debut against Uganda, where he achieved five clean sheets. His appearance against Jordan was without the protective mask used during the game against Argentina, attributed to a jaw injury recovery from April.
Yazeed Abulaila, Jordan’s goalkeeper, demonstrated capable saving techniques for most of the contest but faltered under Algeria’s intensified attack. He misjudged Benbouali’s header for the equalizer and failed to quickly respond to Gouiri’s decisive goal following another corner.
What Did This Game Do for Messi?
Algeria’s success not only renewed their hopes in the World Cup but also cemented Argentina’s position as Group J leaders. With teams tied based on head-to-head results, Jordan possessed an opportunity to lead the group by maintaining their advantage over Algeria and securing a win against Argentina in the upcoming game. However, Algeria’s victory extinguished these prospects, leading to Jordan’s elimination from the tournament.
Algeria will now face Austria in the final day’s match, with the victor claiming second place and competing against Group H winners in Los Angeles on July 6. Presently, Spain leads Group H, trailed by Uruguay. Should the third-place finisher hold a satisfactory record, they will oppose a group winner from Groups B, D, G, K, or L in one of several cities: Atlanta, Kansas City, San Francisco, Seattle, or Vancouver. Further clarity will emerge over the forthcoming weekend.