Vladimir Petković's words after Algeria's World Cup qualification

Interview

Vladimir Petković's statements following the Greens' World Cup qualification

Vladimir Petković's words after Algeria's World Cup qualification

Algeria has stepped back into the spotlight. By dominating Somalia (3-0) at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran, the Fennecs have punched their ticket for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Following this historic victory, Vladimir Petković spoke at length during the press conference, mixing satisfaction, realism, and ambition for what’s next.

The Swiss-Bosnian tactician began by congratulating his entire squad for a win that was as emphatic as it was symbolic:

"Congratulations to us, and to you as well (the journalists). We managed to make this match look easy. Even in such a crucial clash, we were able to enjoy ourselves on the pitch. The criticism helped us progress and correct our mistakes."

Reflecting on the journey since taking charge, Petković also highlighted the significance of this qualification in his career:

"This is one of my finest qualifications. When I arrived, everything was difficult, but we managed to regain calm and composure to get back on track."

Ambition remains high: "Keep our feet on the ground"

Despite the prevailing euphoria, the Algerian head coach refuses to get carried away. For him, this qualification is just one step in a long-term project:

"I won’t be celebrating this qualification too much. We have to keep our feet on the ground: we’ve put in a lot of effort, but there’s still progress to be made. The priority is to get the maximum points against Uganda."

The upcoming match against Uganda, which will close out the qualifying campaign, is shaping up to be decisive. Petković delivered a clear message to his players:

"My message is clear: we have to fight against Uganda, and we’ll need to fight again in November, because spots for AFCON and the 2026 World Cup will be hard-fought. I expect them to show me their qualities and make my selection choices difficult."

The coach also detailed some of his tactical decisions:

"The match against Uganda is very important because every game counts. I’ll be assessing my players and will field the team most capable of winning. Today, I rested players who were one card away from suspension so they’ll be available for the next match."

Mahrez, Belghali, and future objectives

Petković didn’t miss the chance to praise individual performances, notably Riyad Mahrez, who scored one goal and provided two assists:

"Riyad Mahrez didn’t need my support. Tonight, you saw his composure and presence on the pitch. He was in the right place at the right time and silenced many critics. He’s used to pressure—he’s a top-level player."

He also had words for Belghali, who delivered a solid performance down the flank:

"I’ve been following him for several weeks. We’ve gathered a lot of information about him—he has tremendous qualities. Since the start of the training camp, he’s made a very good impression on me. He played a great match, which puts pressure on his competitors for that position."

Finally, the coach wrapped up by reminding everyone that the goal doesn’t stop at this qualification:

"We want to win against Uganda. Looking ahead, our aim is also to do well at AFCON in Morocco. We’ll be evaluating every player to achieve that."

Algeria is back on the world stage, but for Vladimir Petković, this is just the beginning of a journey he hopes will reach the summit.