World Cup 2026 / Argentina - Algeria: despite the heavy defeat, Petkovic refuses to look for a scapegoat

16.06.26 FT World Cup

Argentina

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Algeria

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The defeat against Argentina is now behind the Fennecs. Despite Lionel Messi's masterclass and the clear superiority of the Albiceleste, Vladimir Petkovic prefers to focus on the lessons from this setback and is already looking ahead to the two decisive upcoming matches.

After a tough 3-0 loss to Argentina in their World Cup 2026 opener, Algeria is already trying to regroup for the rest of the tournament. Candid after the match, Vladimir Petkovic acknowledged the Albiceleste's superiority, but refused to panic ahead of the final two group J fixtures.

See also: World Cup 2026 / Algeria - Jordan: "They have exceptional players": Sellami praises the Fennecs

Petkovic bows to Messi's brilliance

Asked about Lionel Messi's exceptional performance, as the Argentine star netted a hat-trick, Algeria's head coach was full of praise:

"Class is permanent. We're not talking about just any player here, we're talking about a footballer who has won the Ballon d'Or seven or eight times in his career. Unfortunately, we also gave him chances for the first and second goals, and we made it easier for him to score. But Messi, with his composure and clarity of mind at crucial moments, can make things look so much easier."

However, the Bosnian coach refused to single out any player, including Luca Zidane:

"It's not my style to blame one player or another, but I think we made a few too many mistakes by allowing Argentine players to have completely free shooting positions in front of goal."

Petkovic refuses to give up on qualification hopes

Despite the setback, the Fennecs' boss remains hopeful for the rest of the tournament. He insists that Algeria still has its fate in its own hands:

"We faced a team that was better than us. It would've been a massive achievement if we had come away with a point today. The other two teams still have to play Argentina. So our destiny is still in our hands."

The coach finished with a rallying call ahead of the clashes with Jordan and Austria:

"We shouldn't dwell on the three goals conceded, but we do need to find a bit more balance. We have to move the ball a little quicker. We'll be facing a different caliber of opponent, so our expectations will change, but we have to make sure the team keeps its confidence, because we know what we're capable of."

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

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Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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