Majid Bougherra, captain of Algeria and Qatar Stars League (QSL) side Lekhwiya, touches the FIFA World Cup trophy at Adidas store in Villaggio Mall in Doha yesterday. The World Cup trophy is on a three-day tour to Qatar. RIGHT: Bougherra poses for a picture with Algerian fans. Algeria are drawn in Group H along with Russia, Korea and Belgium. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT
By Armstrong Vas
Doha: Winning the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil would be a ‘dream gift’ for rank outsiders Algeria, says captain Majid Bougherra.
The 31-year old French-born defender captain of Qatar Stars League (QSL) club Lekhwiya rates Belgium as the top favourities of Group H.
“Listen, we are not favourites, to be honest. Belgium is the top favourite from our group and then Russia is the second favouritites. We also have Korea in the group, who has qualified for all the World Cup Finals. So it will be very tough, but I think everything is possible. So we go there with no complex, enjoy and may be you can do something about it,” said Bougherra, while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour in Doha yesterday.
Algeria is drawn along with Belgium, South Korea and Russia in Group H for the June-July event to be held in the South American country.
Algeria sealed the fifth and final African zone World Cup qualifying berth, edging their play-off with Burkina Faso on away goals.
Algeria lost the first leg play-off 3-2 in Ougadougou and therefore needed just a goal to qualify for their fourth World Cup finals having featured at the 1982, 1986 and 2010 competitions.
With Algeria’s qualification, it is the same line-up of teams who represented Africa at 2010 in South Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Algeria got the goal they needed in the 49th minute through Bougherra off a goal mouth scramble caused by a free-kick.
Bougherra who started his career with French club Gueugnon and has spells with English sides Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic said his team was lucky to qualify for the World Cup.
“Qualifying for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil has been an ‘unbelievable’ moment. We need one goal and we got it and we were lucky to get the goal, but it is good to take it. I am very proud that I scored the goal. I feel like a soldier, a solider for my country. I feel good that I have done the job for my country,” said Bougherra, a regular with the national team since 2004, having won 53 international caps and scored four goals.
The former Rangers player yesterday took part in the interaction organised by Adidas Company for football fans in Doha, wherein, fans got a chance to pose for a picture with the all-gold FIFA World Cup trophy.
Fans also took thrills in posing for pictures with Bougherra at the Adidas store at Villaggio Mall, where the World Cup trophy on a worldwide tour to 88 countries, was on display.
“To touch the World Cup is very hard. It is a big moment for me to touch the Cup trophy which is on a worldwide travel. To win the World Cup is a dream gift and if we do it, it will be a gift for all of us,” said the six footer.
The Peninsula
