Ranking: 22 (Last Updated 05 Jun 2014)
History: In 1982, Algeria became the first African nation to win two matches in the group stage, but they failed to qualify from the group on goal difference after Germany and Austria contrived a result that allowed them both to progress. Algeria have not won a game in their subsequent two finals (1986 and 2010).
Qualifying report: Algeria were the last in the African qualifiers, beating Cup of Nations finalists Burkina Faso 1-0 in the second leg of their play-off to advance on away goals after a 3-2 first-leg defeat. They won all but one game in the previous group stage.
Star Players: Sofiane Feghouli is Algeria`s most skillful player and has proven himself over time. He plays for Valencia (Spain) at club level. He has impressed over the past few seasons with some wonderful performances at Valencia. The 24-year-old winger played for France`s under-21 side and was even close to a call up for the senior team before pledging his allegiance to Algeria. He has pace, skill, passing and an eye for goal.
El Arbi Hillel Soudani plays for Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia). He impressed this season with some solid performances for both club and country. The 26-year-old can play all across the front-line and is more of a clinical finisher. He has scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for the Greens, including the winner in a 1-0 victory over Mali in World Cup qualifying last September.
Top Scorer during WC Qualification 2014: Islam Slimani (5)
Top scorer at the Cup: Salah Assad (2)
Most World Cup caps: Mahmoud Guendouz (6)
Team record at the Cup: M: 9, W: 2, D: 2, L: 5
Coach: Vahid Halilhodzic , 61, took charge in July 2011 and the disciplinarian has cast aside several established players in favour of newer generation, many of whom represented France at youth level. Brazil will be his World Cup debut as a coach, having been sacked by Ivory Coast three months before the 2010 finals.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohamed Zemmamouche (USM Alger), Rais Mbolhi (CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria), Cedric Si Mohamed (CS Constantine)
Defenders: Carl Medjani (Valenciennes), Aissa Mandi (Reims), Madjid Bougherra (Lekhwiya), Faouzi Ghoulam (Naples), Rafik Halliche (Academica Coimbra), Essaid Belkalem (Watford), Liassine Cadamuro (Majorque), Djamel Mesbah (Livourne), Mehdi Mostefa (AC Ajaccio)
Midfielders: Sofiane Feghouli (Valence), Saphir Taider (Inter Milan), Medhi Lacen (Getafe), Abdelmoumen Djabou (Club Africain), Yacine Brahimi (Grenade), Hassan Yebda (Udinese), Nabil Bentaleb (Tottenham), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester)
Forwards: Islam Slimani (Sporting Portugal), Hilal Soudani (Dinamo Zagreb), Nabil Ghilas (FC Porto)
Group listing: Group H - Belgium, South Korea and Russia.
Fixtures:
June 17: Belgium v Algeria, Belo Horizonte
June 22: South Korea v Algeria, Porto Alegre
June 26: Algeria v Russia, Curitiba