Algeria, coming off a 1-0 loss to Slovenia and a 0-0 tie with the English, can advance only with a victory. That likely means wide-open play.
“Their approach to the game would likely be an aggressive one,’’ Donovan said. “A lot of our guys play with or have played against their players. As a team, collectively, they can be unpredictable, and on their day they are a very, very good team.’’
On the first day of winter in South Africa, the US held its last practice at Pilditch Stadium before the match. Because FIFA wants to preserve the field at Loftus Versfeld, the site of the match, today’s training was moved to Eersterust Stadium in Pretoria.
In many ways, the Americans know Algeria much better than Slovenia.
Center back Madjid Bougherra is a teammate of DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu on the Glasgow Rangers; midfielder Karim Matmour plays alongside Michael Bradley on Borussia Moenchengladbach; midfielder Adlane Guedioura plays on Wolverhampton with Marcus Hahnemann; midfielder Riad Boudebouz is at Sochaux with injured American forward Charlie Davies; and defender Nadir Belhadj and midfielder Hassen Yebda play for Portsmouth, where they regularly face the US Premier League contingent.
“They have a lot of guys who are skillful on the ball and who like to get the ball in dangerous areas and run by guys or be creative in their own way and get shots,’’ Bradley said. “Certainly Karim is good at that — his ability to use his speed to run by defenders and to get shots and crosses. I know that well. I play with him every week. So that’s something that we need to keep an eye on.’’
With both teams facing elimination, it figures to be a fiercely fought game.
“Today’s football is very physical. Skill is just for the final meters,’’ Matmour said. “I’m quite happy to see everybody play the most simple game possible.’’
Algeria reached the World Cup for just the third time, following first-round elimination in 1982 and 1986.
