Final Score - WC2010 Group C, USA vs Algeria

Wednesday 23rd June 2010 - Loftus Versfield Stadium, Pretoria - Att. 35,827
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)

LINEUPS:
USA (442): Howard, Cherundolo, Spector, Demerit, Onyewu, Bradley (Holden 65'), Edu, Donovan, Altidore, Findley (Fellhaber 82'), Dempsey (Torres 82')
Algeria (433): Bohli, Yahia, Bougherra, Halliche (Abdoun 72'), Lacen, Yebda, Kadir, Belhadj, Djebbour (Boudebouz 58'), Ziani (Ghezzal 79'), Matmour

Jozy Altidore scored his second goal of the World Cup late in the first half to carry the United States through to the second round. It was Algeria who started the brightest but a chance in the second minute was headed onto the roof of the net by Karim Matmour. The Americans probed and prodded around the area but were sent back time and again by Algeria until Johnathon Spector, standing in for the suspended Bocanegra, whipped in a early cross for Clint Dempsey to send goalwards. His effort was turned away but straight to a waiting Altidore who roofed it with aplomb.

The second half was an exercise in futility as the USA formed an impenetrable brick wall, only breaking if they had the numbers going forward, and stopping the Algerians at every turn.

USA 1 - 0 Algeria
Goalscorers:
USA Altidore 43' (2)

Discipline:
No Cards

Man of the Match:
ALG Mehdi Lacen

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	3	3	0	0	6	2	+4	9
United States	3	2	0	1	3	2	+1	6
Algeria	3	1	0	2	1	2	-2	3
Slovenia	3	0	0	3	1	5	-4	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group C, England vs Algeria

Friday 18th June 2010, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - Att. 64,100
Referee:Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

LINEUPS
England (442): James, Johnson, Cole, Terry, Upson, Barry, Lampard (Wright-Phillips 61'), Milner, Rooney, Defoe (Heskey 73'), Gerrard
Algeria (433): Bohil, Yahia, Bougherra, Halliche, Lacep, Yebda, Khedir (Mansouri 67'), Belhadj, Djebbour (Saifi 82'), Ziani, Matmour (Ghezzal (61')

Ashley Cole was 50/50 after he picked up a knock during England's game against the USA, but the England fans were very happy he made it as he put in a man of the match performance. And it was him leading by example in defense that England needed in the first half as Algeria were playing at a high tempo, testing David James on multiple occasions while their opponents looked inept and without any ideas.

If Bougherra, Djebbour or Ziani had taken at least one of their chances then the upset may have been well and truly on, but the game turned at halftime and Algeria would not get another good look at goal. Instead a controversial goal from Wayne Rooney sunk their opponents. Glen Johnson had run the length of the pitch and with a deft flick split the defense, finding the striker a yard offside but missed by the linesman.

There was a suffocating blanket covering the Algerians from that point on and England only generated another two chances of their own: Gerrard shooting high with the goalie beaten, and Milner not giving Bohil too much to worry about with his very long ranged effort.

England 1 - 0 Algeria
Goalscorers:
ENG Rooney 47'

Discipline:
ALG Yahia 28'

Man of the Match:
ENG Ashley Cole

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	6
United States	2	1	0	1	2	2	0	3
Algeria	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	3
Slovenia	2	0	0	2	0	2	-2	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group C, Algeria vs Slovenia

Sunday 13th June 2010 - Pete Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane. Att: 30,325
Referee: Carlos Batres (Guatemala)

LINEUPS:
Algeria (433): Bohil, Yahia, Bougherra, Halliche, Lacen, Yebda, Kadir, Belhadj, Djebbour (Medjani (85'), Ziani (Mansouri 70'), Matmour (Saifi 62')
Slovenia (442): Handanovic, Brecko, Jokic, Suler, Cesar, Radosavijevic, Koren, Birsa (Komac 71'), Ljubijankic (Dedic 59'), Novakovic, Kirm (Pecnik 79')

This match lived up to it's billing and failed to generate much excitement out of the 30,000+ crowd. Bohil would have very little to do in his goal and his opposite number Handanovic was beaten minutes before the interval when Yahia crossed it neatly for Belhadj.

Both nations had good defensive setups for the match, cancelling out the already limited offensive ideas and the game become a battle for supremacy in the middle of the park. The best chances for Slovenia came early in both halves. Jokic sent his 8th minute header way wide of goal and a direct free kick in a good position was smashed into the wall twelve minutes after the restart. Djebbour came close to adding a second for Algeria in the 73rd minute but his hard drive was saved well.

Algeria 1 - 0 Slovenia
Goalscorers:
ALG Belhadj 41'

Discipline:
ALG Kadir 32'
ALG Halliche 36'
SVN Cesar 54'
ALG Djebbour 78'

Man of the Match:
ALG Rafik Halliche

GROUP C
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
England	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	3
Algeria	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3
Slovenia	1	0	0	1	0	1	-1	0
United States	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0