A largely unknown quantity on the world stage, Algeria go into South Africa seemingly under the radar.
The 1990 African Cup is their only triumph of any consequence but since then, little has been achieved by the Desert Foxes.
Failure to qualify for the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups as well as missing out on the 2006 and 2008 African Cups has ensured the expectations of the Algerians are not too high heading into South Africa 2010 but on the flipside, a semi-final berth in their regions biggest tournament earlier this year highlighted by a win over the highly-rated Ivory Coast puts them not without a slight chance of making the second phase.
Algeria
Playing schedule: Slovenia (Polokwane) June 13; England (Cape Town) June 18; USA (Tshwane/Pretoria) June 23
Also known as: Les Fennecs (The Desert Foxes) Manager: Rabah Saadane (ALG) Captain: Yazid Mansouri Key players: Yazid Mansouri, Karim Ziani, Madjid Bougherra, Rafik Saifi Wildcard: Nadir Belhadj Player to watch:Hassan YebdaMost caps: Mahieddine Meftah (107). Of this squad: Yazid Mansouri (66) Top goalscorer: Abdelhafid Tasfaout (36). Of this squad: Rafik SAifi (18) FIFA ranking: 30 Qualifying: Play-off win after CAF group stage. Defeated Egypt. Appearance: 3rd Best result: Group stage - 1982 & 1986
Algeria squad
Goalkeepers
Fawzi Chouachi (ES Setif) Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef) M'bohi Rais Ouheb (Slavia Sofia)
Defenders
Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif) Madjid Bougherra (Rangers) Carl Medjani (Ajaccio) Rafi Halliche (Nacional) Anther Yahia (Bochum) Haib Belaid (Boulogne) Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth) Djamel Mesbah (Lecce)
Midfielders
Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth) Mehdi Lacen (Racing Santander) Yazid Mansouri (Lorient) Adlene Guedioura (Charleroi) Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux) Djamel Abdoun (Nantes) Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes) Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg)
Forwards
Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena) Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens) Rafik Saifi (Istres) Karim Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach)
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