CdM 2026: Petkovic, "All our players are ready for tomorrow's match."

A few hours before the match against Jordan, counting for the second day of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, Algeria's coach, Vladimir Petkovic, appeared before the media with a speech filled with serenity and confidence.

While the Greens are under pressure to react after their defeat on the first day against Argentina, the Bosnian coach sought to downplay the importance of this match, refusing to consider it a definitive turning point in his team's journey.

"All our players are ready for tomorrow's match," Petkovic first assured, while a potential injury to Amoura was mentioned. The coach also addressed the criticism aimed at goalkeeper Luca Zidane after the previous match. "Every player has the right to make mistakes. I have great confidence in Luca Zidane's qualities as a goalkeeper," he stated.

Reflecting on the defeat against Argentina, Petkovic preferred to focus on the positive aspects of the Algerian performance. "We had a good match against Argentina despite some mistakes. We were up against a team that has Lionel Messi in its ranks," he recalled.

The head of the Greens then emphasized the mindset that should drive his players before facing Jordan. "I hope we will maintain our positivity and confidence in our abilities. Our goal is to qualify for the next round, which is why a victory against Jordan is very important. We have analyzed our opponent and we will give everything to achieve victory," he explained.

However, Petkovic rejected the idea that this confrontation would already be decisive. "I do not agree with those who consider tomorrow's match to be decisive. We will still have a match against Austria, which will be just as important."

Finally, the Algerian coach revealed that the final tactical adjustments would be made during the training session scheduled for the evening. "We are looking to achieve a positive result tomorrow and I will finalize the last tactical details tonight."