Algeria weathered a Dutch storm in Rotterdam on Wednesday night, securing a late 1-0 victory thanks to an inspired performance from goalkeeper Luca Zidane.
At Feyenoord’s home ground, the Algerians stood firm against wave after wave of ‘Oranje’ pressure, kept afloat by the heroics of the son of a French football icon. Zidane was called into action early, thwarting efforts from Tijjani Reijnders in the 19th minute and Cody Gakpo just sixty seconds later.
Luca Zidane, who earned his first international stripes during the recent Africa Cup of Nations, featured in a protective mask following a fractured jaw. The injury did little to hinder his composure, however, as he repeatedly came out on top in individual duels with Reijnders (25th) and Gakpo (41st).
The 28-year-old Granada shot-stopper completed the full 90 minutes and undoubtedly bolstered his chances of securing a place in Vladimir Petkovic’s final squad. Petkovic has called up four goalkeepers but must trim that number to three for the World Cup in North America, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
Following the interval and a raft of substitutions—six for Algeria and five for the Netherlands—the contest became more balanced. The visitors began to show greater attacking intent, punctuated by an Ibrahim Maza effort in the 47th minute.
Nevertheless, Donyell Malen remained a persistent threat to Zidane’s goal, which remained unbreached thanks to an athletic save from a Justin Kluivert strike (61st minute) and another late stop to deny Memphis Depay (83rd minute).
It was from Algeria’s second and final shot on target that Anis Hadj Moussa found the breakthrough in the 86th minute, silencing a home crowd already dampened by the Rotterdam rain.
Looking ahead to their friendly fixtures, 29th-ranked Algeria—who boasted eight wins from ten in qualifying—face a daunting task to progress from Group J, which features Argentina, Austria, and Jordan. However, Wednesday’s result provides a timely morale boost before they open their campaign against world champions Argentina in Kansas City on June 17.
The Netherlands enter the tournament as Group F favourites, where they will face Japan (opening in Arlington on June 14), Sweden, and Tunisia. They harbour serious ambitions of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2014.
To do so, the world’s 7th-ranked nation must find a more clinical edge, though they can draw confidence from recent displays against elite opposition. In March, Ronald Koeman’s side pushed European champions Spain to the limit, only bowing out on penalties in the Nations League quarter-finals.