Algeria coach Rabah Saadane on how qualifying for the World Cup united a nation

England may have good reason to want to win the World Cup but they are primarily sporting reasons. The team they face on Friday in Cape Town can argue that their motivation for success goes way beyond trifling matters such as sport.

Algeria, who opened their World Cup account against Slovenia, are gracing the tournament for the first time since 1986 and, in the intervening 24 years, they are a country that has suffered greatly, especially over the last decade that has seen Algeria almost brought to its knees through civil war, persistent al-Qaida-linked terrorism and mass unemployment.

When, last November, the national football team defeated Egypt in the World Cup play-off to decide which of the two nations would qualify for South Africa, the whole country seemed to drop its differences and unite and, according to Algeria's players, this has been the case ever since as all turn their eyes to football, their national team and to the World Cup.

"We have a very important responsibility to our people," admits Ghezzal Abdelkadar, the Siena striker in Italy's Serie A who scored the winner against Egypt. "The day we beat Egypt and qualified for the World Cup was seen as a bigger day than even Independence Day in Algeria and Independence Day has always been the biggest day of the year back home. Everyone came out on to the streets to celebrate and to party. It was an amazing scene to see because for so many years the people have been at war with each other and there has been so much unrest. But now they are all united and football has played a big part in achieving this."

To say that World Cup qualification was bigger than Independence Day is a hige statement to make considering that Algeria waged a long and bitter rule against France, its former colonial ruler, and the 1962 independence remains a seminal moment in the nation's history.

Yazid Mansouri would not be recognised if he walked down any English street save for perhaps in Coventry where the most ardent Sky Blue fan may remember his short spell there five years' ago. But it is a very different case for the Algerian captain back in Algiers, even though the midfielder plays his club football for L'Orient in France. "It is now impossible for me to go out in our capital city," he said. "There are posters of me as tall as buildings all over Algiers and if I walked the streets I would be mobbed.

"That's how seriously the people are taking us at the World Cup. It means so much to them that we have qualified again for the tournament after such a long absence. The people believe we can win the group and I don't see why we cannot. It's not more pressure on us because we have little to lose. While England will be expected to beat us and have all the pressure on them we can play with freedom and be able to express ourselves knowing that we have the whole Algerian nation behind us.

"It will give us extra passion and belief because the people have been through so much in the past few years that we are all determined to do our very best for them, not just us. Everyone knows it will not be easy, especially against England, but our motivation runs very deep and that's why the Algerian people and the players believe we can qualify from the group."

It seems that the England team are also well-known to the Algerian public. "That's because we have the Champions League and the English Premiership on TV back home all the time," Mansouri added. "Every member of the English team is immediately recognised by the Algerian public, especially Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Half of Algeria have an opinion on how we can beat England. The belief from the people has helped the players believe as well.

"What is so good is that after war and so much trouble football has made everyone happy. Qualifying for this tournament after so long away from the World Cup was a symbolic moment for the whole country. Before politics and war split us but now we are together. Independence day was the second biggest day of the year lasy year, and if we can go far in the World Cup, at least qualify from our group, then Independence day will again not be the number one day this year back home."

The fact that all the schools in Algeria are ending their school year early just so that the children can watch their beloved team today and over the next fortnight and maybe beyond is an indication of just how big a deal this is for the only Arab country in this year's World Cup.

"There are 35 million Algerians and we understand that we are representing our country," added Portsmouth left back Nadir Belhadj. "We've had our problems. The whole world knows that. But we are the new face of Algeria, the new generation. And we want everyone to see this as well."

With security, social services and housing concerns all improving in Algeria the country has re-discovered pride in itself, and now the football team has become the nation's embodiment. "We've already made Algeria proud," concluded head coach Rabah Saadane. "We intend to make them even prouder now."  

The Algerian football team is sponsored by Puma, for more information please click on www.pumafootball.com