World Cup Fear Factor Gone for Jordan Ahead of Algeria Clash, Says Coach
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Jordan's coach Jamal Sellami believes pre-match nerves have dissipated ahead of their World Cup clash with Algeria.
- Both Jordan and Algeria lost their opening matches and face potential elimination with another defeat.
- Sellami emphasized the importance of performance and displaying a respectable image for the Jordanian team, regardless of the outcome.
Jordanian coach Jamal Sellami expressed confidence that his team has overcome the "fear factor" of their World Cup debut and is ready to perform against Algeria. The "Al Nashama" players are now more relaxed and assured of their abilities following their opening match against Austria.
We know that the fear of the opener is behind us now. The players are more trusting in their abilities. Now they are more relaxed and more assured that they will give their best on the pitch.
Jordan impressed with their fighting spirit in their debut, scoring their first World Cup goal before ultimately losing 3-1 to Austria. Sellami acknowledged Algeria's strength, particularly their attacking prowess and fast players, but cautioned against over-reliance on their previous result against Argentina, where they suffered a heavy defeat.
They played against the world champions ... The Algerian team are strong on attack, fast and have important players - even in the substitutes.
With both Jordan and Algeria having lost their initial Group J games, Monday's match carries significant weight. A loss for either team could lead to their elimination from the tournament, depending on the outcome of the Argentina-Austria game. Sellami stressed that while the stakes are high, the team's performance and disciplined play, as demonstrated by their lack of yellow cards against Austria, are paramount.
We didn't get any kind of yellow card and this reflects the positive spirit of our squad.
"Even more important than the result or anything else is the performance on the pitch to show a very respectable face of the Jordanian squad," Sellami stated. He also highlighted the "Arab brotherly spirit" between Jordan and Algeria, emphasizing that despite the competitive nature of the match, mutual respect and camaraderie exist between the nations.
Outside the turf, we're brothers. We love each other and this match will reflect this Arab brotherly spirit.
Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.