Algeria national football team head coach Vladimir Petkovic declared his entire squad fully prepared during a press conference on June 22, 2026, ahead of their second World Cup group stage match against Jordan.
The manager addressed the media to build confidence following a previous defeat against Argentina, updating on squad fitness and player critiques before the upcoming fixture.
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"All our players are ready for tomorrow's match," said Petkovic, dismissing rumors surrounding an injury to player Amoura.
The head coach then defended goalkeeper Luca Zidane, who had faced significant public criticism regarding his performance in the opening match of the tournament.
"Every player has the right to make mistakes. I have great confidence in Luca Zidane's qualities as a goalkeeper," stated Petkovic.
Reflecting on the recent loss to Argentina, the manager shifted focus toward the constructive elements displayed by the Algerian team during that encounter.
"We played a good match against Argentina despite some errors. We were up against a team that includes Lionel Messi in its ranks," recalled Petkovic.
Looking forward to the challenge presented by Jordan, the coach emphasized the psychological mindset required by his players to secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
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"I hope we maintain our positivity and confidence in our abilities. Our objective is to qualify for the next round, so a victory against Jordan is very important.
We have analyzed our opponent and will give everything to secure the win," explained Petkovic.
Despite the high stakes of the game, the manager downplayed assertions from analysts and fans that the fixture would mathematically decide their tournament fate.
"I disagree with those who consider tomorrow's match decisive. We still have a match against Austria, which will be equally important," countered Petkovic.
The strategist concluded by noting that final on-field preparations and tactical adjustments would take place during a scheduled evening practice session.
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"We are looking to obtain a positive result tomorrow, and I will finalize the last tactical details this evening," revealed Petkovic.
