Algeria head coach Vladimir Petkovic has admitted deep frustration following his side’s dramatic 4-3 defeat to Sweden, acknowledging the game exposed key flaws in his team’s performance while also revealing glimpses of promise for the future.
Speaking candidly after the match, Petkovic did not hide his disappointment.
“We were penalized by certain decisions, but the spectators must have seen a great match. For the coaches, on the other hand, it gives them something to work on,” he said, highlighting the dual nature of a fixture that oscillated between chaos and quality. While Algeria’s second-half display was markedly improved, the damage had already been done in a disastrous first period.
Petkovic made no attempt to shift the blame away from his players or himself.
He was forthright in identifying the turning point as Sweden’s opening goal, which triggered a lapse in Algeria’s collective focus.
“What I didn’t like was that the opposing team was able to set up their game because of us,” he reflected. “The first 15 minutes, we were good, but we weren’t able to capitalize. The Swedes played really well, but we’re responsible for this defeat. We didn’t play as a team enough after the first goal.”
The Swiss-Bosnian tactician’s assessment diverged from the usual downplaying of results that often follows friendly matches.
For Petkovic, there was nothing casual about this defeat.
“It wasn’t a friendly match. I can’t be happy because we lost. I can be happy if we learn from this match where there were a lot of things,” he insisted, underscoring the seriousness with which he views every international outing.
Yet despite the loss, there were reasons for cautious optimism.
The second-half resurgence, driven by impactful substitutions including Nabil Bentaleb, Yassine Benzia, and Amine Gouiri, offered a glimpse of what Algeria could become if they find cohesion across the full 90 minutes.
“No defeat feels good, but the reaction means we can start again on something positive after the first defeat in a year,” Petkovic said, emphasizing the psychological strength shown by his squad.
The match, chaotic as it was, painted a picture of a team still searching for balance under a relatively new coaching regime.
Petkovic remains hopeful that lessons will be learned swiftly, particularly the need for sustained collective discipline and tactical unity from the opening whistle to the final minute.
If Algeria can take anything from this seven-goal thriller, it is the clear directive from their manager: attractive football means little without structure, and talent must be matched by cohesion.v
