The Algerian coach returns to the “cruel” defeat against Cameroon (1-2 ap) on Tuesday and the elimination of Fennecs for the World Cup.
Djamel Belmadi (coach of Algeria, after the last-second defeat against Cameroon which deprived their World Cup team ) : «We have collapsed. We put our lives on hold for this match. For our country, our people. The sky has fallen on our heads. It’s football, it’s sport. But it’s our whole life, at the same time. I don’t know if we failed mentally. 10 seconds from a World Cup, it is surely a problem of concentration, of lucidity (Cameroonian Karl Toko Ekambi scored the decisive goal in the 124th minute of play, Ed). We were never put in danger, never dominated, except on set pieces and those ten seconds.
The house of cards collapses. Everyone is shot. We couldn’t see ourselves not going. What cruelty to end like that 10 seconds from the end… (…) This bad scenario, we have to get over it. Today, it is difficult for me to talk about the future. There are balance sheets to be made. You will have to get up. Algeria is a great nation. There are still beautiful things to do, with or without me.” (in press conference)