Algeria get ready for Argentina test with win over Netherlands

Algeria got their pre-World Cup preparations off to a perfect start as they pulled off a dramatic 1-0 smash-and-grab victory over the Netherlands tonight at a stunned De Kuip in Rotterdam.

In what served as the Dutch national team’s final home send-off friendly before traveling to the World Cup, Ronald Koeman’s side utterly dominated possession and territory but was plagued by immense wastefulness, with Donyell Malen striking the woodwork and missing a wide-open target.

Despite racking up a heavily lopsided expected goals (xG) advantage, the home side were completely punished for their inefficiency in the 86th minute.

Ironically, it was Feyenoord’s own Anis Hadj Moussa, coming off the bench for Algeria, who delivered the game’s defining moment on his club home turf—cutting inside from the right flank to unleash a spectacular, curling left-footed strike into the top corner past debutant keeper Robin Roefs. While the triumphant Fennec Foxes head across the Atlantic riding a massive wave of confidence, the high-flying Dutch are left with an urgent, sobering wake-up call to fix their clinical edge before the tournament kicks off in North America.

Algeria are pitted in Group J with Argentina, Austria and Jordan and get their World Cup campaign underway in Kansas City on June 16 as they face the reigning champions.

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Netherlands

• 1 Bart Verbruggen (45')
• 15 Mickey van de Ven (45')
• 6 Jan Paul van Hecke (87')
• 12 Mats Wieffer (68')
• 4 Virgil Van Dijk (45')
• 14 Tijani Reijnders (68')
• 8 Ryan Gravenberch (45')
• 21 De Jong (68')
• 24 Crysencio Summerville (45')
• 18 Malen (68')
• 11 Gakpo (80')
• Substitutes
• 25 Jorrel Hato (45')
• 7 Justin Kluivert (45')
• 19 Brian Brobbey (87')
• 9 Wouter Weghorst (80')
• 20 Teun Koopmeiners (68')
• 17 Noa Lang
• 23 Mark Flekken
• Lutsharel Geertruida (68')
• 16 Guus Til
• 10 Depay (45')
• 13 Robin Roefs (45')
• 5 Aké (45')
• 26 Quentin Timber (68')
• Ian Maatsen
• 3 Marten de Roon (68')

Algeria

• 23 Luca Zidane
• 5 Zineddine Belaïd
• 3 Achref Abada (45')
• 2 Mandi (45')
• 15 Rayan Ait Nouri (45')
• 8 Houssem Aouar (45')
• 6 Ramiz Zerrouki (45')
• 19 Bentaleb
• 7 Mahrez (45')
• 18 Mohammed Amoura (68')
• 9 Amine Gouiri (62')
• Substitutes
• 26 Samir Sophian Chergui
• 13 Jaouen Hadjam (45')
• 1 Melvin Mastil
• 12 Nadhir Benbouali (62')
• 4 Mohamed Amine Tougai (45')
• 24 Yacine Titraoui
• 17 Rafik Belghali (45')
• 21 Rami Bensebaini
• 20 Adil Boulbina (68')
• 16 Oussama Benbot
• 22 Ibrahim Maza (45')
• 25 Farès Ghedjemis
• 10 Farès Chaïbi (45')
• 11 Anis Hadj Moussa (45')

Substitutions

Robin Roefs (45', Bart Verbruggen), Nathan Aké (45', Virgil van Dijk), Jorrel Hato (45', Micky van de Ven), Justin Kluivert (45', Crysencio Summerville), Memphis Depay (45', Ryan Gravenberch), Jaouen Hadjam (45', Rayan Aït-Nouri), Farès Chaïbi (45', Houssem Aouar), Anis Hadj Moussa (45', Aïssa Mandi), Rafik Belghali (45', Achref Abada), Ibrahim Maza (45', Riyad Mahrez), Mohamed Amine Tougai (45', Ramiz Zerrouki), Nadhir Benbouali (62', Amine Gouiri), Lutsharel Geertruida (68', Mats Wieffer), Teun Koopmeiners (68', Donyell Malen), Quinten Timber (68', Frenkie de Jong), Marten de Roon (68', Tijjani Reijnders), Adil Boulbina (68', Mohammed Amoura), Wout Weghorst (80', Cody Gakpo), Brian Brobbey (87', Jan Paul van Hecke)

Goals

0-1, 85': Anis Hadj Moussa