Soccer-Algeria coach says win over Jordan boosts confidence ahead of Austria crunch match


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group J - Jordan v Algeria - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California, U.S. - June 22, 2026 Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic during hydration break REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

SANTA CLARA, California, ⁠June 22 (Reuters) - Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said his ⁠side’s 2-1 comeback win over Jordan at the ‌World Cup on Monday had given them confidence ahead of their final Group J match against Austria.

• Algeria rebounded from their 3-0 ​defeat by Argentina to overhaul Jordan ⁠with two second-half ⁠goals at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, eliminating their opponents.

• "I ⁠think ‌ultimately we’ve produced two good performances. We deserve to win this game, and it certainly ⁠gives us a lot of confidence and ​belief ahead ‌of our next match," said Petkovic at the post-match ⁠press conference.

• ​He said his team were made to pay for a defensive lapse when Jordan's Nizar Al-Rashdan opened the ⁠scoring in the first half.

• Jordan ​are a solid, combative side and deserved their place at the World Cup, he added.

• Algeria are level on ⁠three points with Austria, three behind defending champions Argentina, who have already qualified for the round of 32.

• "What mattered for us was to win this match, to ​stay in the hunt, to make ⁠it through to the knockout stage, and ultimately to ​have our fate in our ‌own hands," Petkovic said. "Nothing has yet ​been decided, but we’re in a good position.”

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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