U.S. vs. Algeria

Tale of the tape

Wednesday's USA-Algeria match is the first between their national soccer teams, but both have endured similar frustration on the international stage. Like the Americans' 2-2 tie with Slovenia last week, when many thought the Yanks lost the apparent winning goal on a referee's decision, the Algerians had their own "we was robbed" World Cup moment. In 1982, in the final game of group play, West Germany and Austria appeared in cahoots during a dull, 1-0 West German victory that kept Algeria from advancing based on goal differential.

ALGERIA CATEGORY USA

Les Fennecs (Desert Foxes) Nickname The Yanks

3 World Cup appearances 9

2-4-2 All-time Cup record 6-16-5

1986-2010 World Cup drought* 1950-1990

Def. West Germany, 2-1 (1982) World Cup moment Def. England, 1-0 (1950)

30 World rank 14

July 5 (1962) National independence day July 4 (1776)

Lakhdar Belloumi Soccer legend TBD

*This was known, in Algeria, as The Walk in the Desert. (In the United States, it was not even noticed.)

- JOHN JEANSONNE