Ronaldo Koeman tips his hat to Algeria

Africa Today at 06:00

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI

News Editor

03.06.26 FT Friendly International

Netherlands

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Algeria

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Algeria stunned the Netherlands in Rotterdam (1-0), making a statement just days before the 2026 World Cup. The Fennecs’ rock-solid performance even prompted Ronald Koeman to publicly praise the spirit and quality shown by Vladimir Petkovic’s men.

The Algerian team made a huge impact in Rotterdam. By defeating the Netherlands (1-0) on De Kuip’s turf, Vladimir Petkovic’s squad not only secured a prestigious victory but also earned the respect of Ronald Koeman, who was notably critical of his own side after the match.

Read also: Algeria triggers an alert in the Netherlands

Algeria praised by Ronald Koeman

The Dutch coach admitted the Fennecs exploited his team’s weaknesses to perfection.

“Not having killed off the game in the first 25 minutes—when we could and should have scored twice—we ended up losing our way. They had their dangerous chances, as did we. Algeria proved there’s no such thing as a friendly match. These kinds of nations play with heart, and that’s a good thing. It’s a valuable lesson. I hope we’ll know how to use it the right way,” he said.

The Fennecs made a real impression

Koeman also sounded the alarm about the Oranje’s performance, while highlighting the quality of Algeria’s display.

“I see this as a wake-up call. Of course, there were some positives tonight, but as the minutes went on, our level dropped.”

He went on to add:

“I don’t want to blame it all on the numerous changes, because Algeria made just as many. However, we were sloppier in the second half and created fewer chances than in the first.”

A verdict that says a lot about the performance delivered by the Fennecs just days before the 2026 World Cup.

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