Slovenia Top Group C

In every World Cup there is that one awful game, and on the third day of the tournament that game came along in the form of Slovenia v Algeria.

It’s a match that many England fans had an eye on after the disappointing draw the night before against the USA.

And for most of the match it looked like a draw was on the cards, which would have been the perfect result for England.

But, sadly, it wasn’t to be as Slovenia scored in the seventy ninth minute to win the game and shockingly top Group C after the first round of matches.

The match offered little in terms of excitement, Algeria’s only real chance coming in the third minute when goalkeeper Samir Handanovic was forced to make a great save from a twenty five year free kick from Belhadj.

From that point onwards it was an error riddled encounter as neither side could capitalise on the chance handed to them by England and America to top the group.

The first half was as dull as dishwater and the whistle couldn’t come quick enough. Slovenia finally made a shot on goal just minutes before the half time whistle went as Birsa took a shot from twenty yards out, which resulted in a one handed save from Chaouchi.

Into the second half and it was Slovenia who started with more conviction but it was Algeria who had the first chance as Djebbour could have put them ahead, but lack of control saw that chance go begging.

Algeria picked up the pace when Ghezzal was introduced to the game in the fifty eighth minute as he had two headers that failed to find the goal.

But with those two headers also came two bookings, the first within minutes for shirt pulling. The red card, which produced the most exciting moment of the match, came with fifteen minutes to go with an outrageous handball.

Despite being down to ten men Algeria were handed a gleaming chance to take the lead when a pass from Handanovic to defender Suler fell at the feel of Ziani, but Handanovic rescued the situation.

Slovenia finally got the goal that they were looking for in the seventy ninth minute when another goalkeeping error saw the ball find the back of the net.

Chaouchi made a meal of a simple save form a shot by Koren and the ball went in the corner of the net.

Algeria did try to get back on level terms in the dying minutes of the game by pushing bodies forward but the match ended 1-0 and Slovenia took all three points.

Despite that fact that Slovenia now top Group C both England and USA must fancy their chances in their remaining two matches.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw