Petkovic praises Algeria spirit after 'crazy' Austria draw

Algeria manager Vladimir Petkovic described his team's thrilling 3-3 draw against Austria in their final World Cup Group J match as "a little crazy." The result secured advancement for both sides into the round of 32.

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It sort of went beyond the limits of everyone's endurance

Austria took the lead twice during the match, but Algeria consistently responded. Algeria appeared to have secured a victory with a goal in the 93rd minute, only for Austria to equalize three minutes later in stoppage time.

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Switzerland is a great team... I do know them, even if there are new faces, some of them played with me, so I know these players

Petkovic, who previously coached Switzerland from 2014 to 2021, acknowledged the upcoming challenge. "Switzerland is a great team... I do know them, even if there are new faces, some of them played with me, so I know these players," he stated. However, he emphasized that his immediate focus was on recovery rather than the next opponent.

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Let's rest and then we will begin again for the next round

Reflecting on the draw, Petkovic expressed happiness that "football won" in the end, referencing the lingering memory of the 1982 "Disgrace of Gijon." He added that Algeria is still developing and improving with each match. "Let's rest and then we will begin again for the next round," he concluded.

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I'm extremely happy that at the end it was football that won, that prevailed. 3-3 as a score says it all