Algeria’s national team coach, Vladimir Petkovic, has acknowledged the difficulty his team faced against Nigeria in their recent match. He praised the opponent’s level of play, highlighting their technical and physical capabilities.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Petkovic stated, “Our opponent demonstrated their abilities, both technically and physically. We were unable to implement our usual attacking game, especially in the first half.”
He addressed the performance of the Algerian attack, saying, “We played with three or four forwards, but the problem was that the ball wasn’t reaching them effectively. A lack of precision in our passing hindered our ability to capitalize on available opportunities.”
Regarding his tactical choices, Petkovic explained, “I didn’t opt for playing with three defenders at the back because I needed players in attack. I had several ideas, but I preferred this approach,” indicating an attempt to balance defense and offense despite Nigeria’s control of the midfield.
Petkovic’s comments reflect the challenges faced by ‘Les Verts’ against a cohesive Nigerian team and shed light on the reasons why they were unable to recover after conceding two goals in the second half. The coach emphasized the need for improvement in both attack and midfield control to secure future victories. Further analysis is expected on the team’s strategy moving forward.
