Korea Republic vs Algeria preview - Feghouli issues rallying cry

Posted Sunday, June 22, 2014 by PA

Algeria winger Sofiane Feghouli has called on his side to "fight like lions" to secure their qualification from World Cup Group Hb .

Having narrowly lost their opening game to much-fancied Belgium and with Russia to come, the Desert Foxes will be desperate for a positive result against South Korea on Sunday.

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic has warned his team "now is not the time for crying" and Feghouli, who scored Algeria's goal against Belgium from the penalty spot, rallied his colleagues.

The Valencia winger told reporters in Brazil: "It will be historic if we qualify, we have to fight like lions.

"We have quality players, we'll do everything to go through."

Korean skipper Koo Ja-cheol has promised to lead by example as his side bid to follow up their 1-1 draw against Russia with a victory.

He told fifa.com: "I don't feel especially pressured or overwhelmed by the responsibilities (of captaincy).

"If I observe the players and control them, to make sure that they enter the match together, then I think we will get a good result against Algeria.

"If we have good build-up play from the defence and our players gain confidence with the ball, then it will give me more options in different positions.

"If our opponents put us under pressure and our defenders are struggling to cope, I will try to use the space behind their lines."

Korea midfielder Ha Dae-sung is expected to miss the game with a foot injury, while Halilhodzic will choose from an unchanged Algeria squad.