[Buck]

This is an ESPN insider article

PRETORIA, South Africa -- What's the deal with Algeria?

It's not always easy to predict what you'll get from Les Fennecs, a squad filled with talented players, many of whom grew up in the French training system and now play for European clubs. But if anyone should know what it takes to win at the top level, it's Zinedine Zidane. Conveniently, the French superstar (whose parents hail from Algeria) also has served as an adviser to Les Fennecs. Insider got some exclusive time with Zizou on Monday, and here's what he had to say about the Algeria-U.S. matchup.

"Algeria was really weak in the first game against Slovenia, and it was a shame, since they did play very well against England," Zidane said. "I think they were the better team, and they only lacked a score. I do believe they have chances to qualify, since England is not playing well at all. In fact, I find the United States are a strong team, stronger than England right now. However, if Algeria can play against the U.S. as they did against England, I'm pretty sure they can win that game."

The U.S. has scouted Algeria extensively, and the players are already well-versed on what to expect Wednesday.

"As a team collectively, they can be unpredictable," U.S. midfielder Landon Donovan says. "On their day, they're a very, very good team. We have to see what the game presents early."

Donovan, of course, didn't elaborate on tactics. But we've gleaned some scouting tidbits from watching, reading and listening ahead of the U.S. match, and we can provide a snapshot of what Algeria is likely to do and where the U.S. might find holes.

First, Algeria usually goes with a 4-5-1 formation, but it wouldn't be surprising to see a switch to a 3-5-2 or a 3-6-1 because Les Fennecs need a victory to advance. A draw won't do. They have several creative players on the attack, led by midfielder Karim Ziani, an active playmaker who has some Donovan in him. His weakness? Well, his weakness -- he's not physical at all. But center midfield engine Hassan Yebda helps make up for that.

Michael Bradley's Borussia Monchengladbach teammate Karim Matmour is, like Ziani, a threat with the ball at his feet. "The have a lot of guys who like to get the ball in dangerous areas and run by guys, or be creative in their own ways and get shots," Bradley says. "Certainly [Matmour] is good at that. His ability to use his speed to run by defenders and get shots and crosses, I know that well. I play with him every week."

What Bradley didn't say? Matmour has a frustrating tendency to get too cute with the ball and turn it over.

In the attacking third, Algeria likes finding sturdy and speedy lone striker Abdelkader Ghezzal, who will be rested after drawing a dumb second yellow card against Slovenia and missing the England match.

If the Algerians opt to use a three-man back line, Nadir Belhadj, the talented left back, will move up to the midfield. He's fast and crafty and provides good service into the box. "He's a physically talented player who's got good feet as well, and we're aware of his strengths," U.S. right back Steve Cherundolo says.

But Belhadj can be lazy at times, and that's a position at which the U.S. probably has an advantage in general. Algeria is liable to get caught on a counter move, and if that happens, it will be in trouble. Keeper Faouzi Chaouchi is shaky, which he demonstrated by spilling the winning goal against Slovenia in the Group C opener. A sore knee forced Chaouchi to sit against England, but he could return for the finale.

And if the game isn't going their way, the Algerians could lose their collective temper and self-destruct. So far, however, they haven't. And if anything should scare the U.S., it's that fact. Algeria has mostly kept its poise, and if Les Fennecs continue to do so, the Yanks are in for a tense 90 minutes.

NOTES:

* Donovan didn't tell the media anything they didn't know about the U.S. striker situation on Monday. With Robbie Findley suspended for the Algeria match because of yellow card accumulation, the U.S. star talked about the options of moving Clint Dempsey up front or replacing Findley with Edson Buddle or Herculez Gomez. But Donovan did make it clear that the team isn't happy with the bogus yellow against Slovenia that victimized Findley, who was whistled for a handball in the box when replays showed that the ball hit his face. "It's absolutely unfair that Robbie's out of this game," Donovan said. "I can't imagine having a World Cup game taken from me because of something that was completely wrong and unfair. I think we all feel for Robbie in that way."

* The head of FIFA's refereeing department declined to address the controversial call that denied the U.S. a potential winning goal against Slovenia on Friday, according to The Washington Post. The officiating in that match hasn't yet been reviewed, but FIFA nonetheless left referee Koman Coulibaly off its list of officials working second-round matches.

* It's pure speculation, but Insider's Rumor Central is suggesting that several top U.S. players could have caught Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's eye in South Africa. Wenger has been full of praise for the Americans while analyzing World Cup games on French television, making some wonder whether Donovan, Bradley and/or Tim Howard might be on the Gunners' radar when the European transfer window opens next month. The London club is looking for help in midfield and goal, and all three players are well-known to Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis, the former deputy commissioner of MLS. Wenger has previously discussed his intention to land a young defensive midfielder this summer, and the 22-year-old Bradley has been one of the tournament's best so far.

* While we're mulling that possibility, here's another: Could Dempsey potentially follow Roy Hodgson to Liverpool if the Fulham coach takes over at Anfield after the World Cup?