Vladimir Petkovic trusts new defenders to step up in World Cup push

Vladimir Petkovic is placing his trust in fresh defensive options as Algeria gears up for the final stretch of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The head coach surprised many with his squad selection, handing first national team call-ups to Mehdi Dorval, Rafik Belghali, and Samir Chergui, alongside goalkeeper Luca Zidane. His decision comes at a time when Algeria’s back line has been hit by a string of injuries.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Petkovic explained his reasoning.

“I think our defense is working well. We also have midfielders and forwards who help defensively. We had to make choices because we have injuries. […] I want to give the opportunity to new players like Chergui but the door remains open.”

Petkovic stressed that introducing new names could add resilience to a defense that faces a stern test in the coming fixtures. While acknowledging the team’s progress, he urged continued growth.

“I’m not 100% satisfied like everyone else. We can improve our defense in one-on-one situations, but we’ve seen that we’ve improved on set pieces.”