Algeria Coach Halilhodzic to Announce World Cup Squad ‘Very Soon’
Algeria head coach Vahid Halilhodzic has confirmed that he will soon unveil his 23-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, with the final list already decided in his mind.
Speaking to the media, the Bosnian tactician, who previously led Ivory Coast, said preparations are well underway and that the long-awaited squad announcement is imminent.
“The list of players who will participate in the World Cup is in my head. I will announce the selected players very soon,” Halilhodzic said.
The Fennecs are preparing for their fourth World Cup appearance, hoping to make a strong impression in Brazil after a disappointing group-stage exit in 2010. Halilhodzic, who took charge of the Algerian national team in 2011, has overseen a period of significant rebuilding and is expected to blend youth with experience in his final selection.
When asked by a Qatari newspaper about the potential returns of two former national team stalwarts—Karim Ziani and Nadir Belhadj—Halilhodzic offered a firm response, especially regarding Belhadj, who currently plays in the Qatari league.
“Belhadj himself decided to leave the national team. He’s a player I admire and I know he’s having an outstanding season in Qatar. But let me be clear—I was not the one who excluded him. His return to the national team is very complicated,” he explained.
On Ziani, the coach took a more diplomatic tone. “I have no problem with Karim Ziani,” he said. “His return to the national team? Yes, why not. But right now, allow me to say that I have more important things to focus on.”
Ziani, once considered a key playmaker for Algeria, and Belhadj, a veteran left-back who played a vital role in the 2010 campaign, have both been absent from the national setup in recent years. While Ziani’s potential return has not been ruled out, Halilhodzic’s comments suggest Belhadj’s comeback is highly unlikely.
With the World Cup fast approaching, attention now turns to which players will make the final cut for Brazil. Algeria have been drawn in Group H alongside Belgium, Russia, and South Korea, and will need to be at their best to advance beyond the group stage.