Can Algeria have their vengeance?

25 June 1982 was a very unfortunate day for the Algerians as a certain disgraceful event occurred, robbing the African team of their chance to progress into the next round of the World Cup.  A day also known as “Schande Von Gijon” or “Disgrace of Gijon”.

It happened 32 years ago, Algeria qualified for their first ever World Cup and were pitted against West Germany in their very first match. They went into the game all guns blazing and delivered the shock of the tournament as they defeated the then European Champions West Germany by 2-1.

Sadly though, they lost their second game against Austria by 2-0 but went on to win their third and final game by a 3-2 margin against Chile.

West Germany, meanwhile, had their third group game scheduled for the next day against Austria. All the Germans and the Austrians to progress into the next round was a 1-0 or a 2-0 victory for West Germany. If the Germans won by a bigger margin Austria would have gone home. Had the Austrians won the Germans would have gone home.

But that wasn’t to happen.

Germany wanted to make Algeria pay for winning against them and so made an alleged pact and joined hands with the Austrians to knock the North African team out to confirm their berth in the next round.

West Germany started the game furiously and took the lead in the 10th tminute. Soon the game came to a standstill with neither team trying to score goals or creating chances. They played out a mutually beneficial game and both the teams successfully qualified with a 1-0 German victory.

A subsequent inquiry was launched due to pressure and support from world over for Algeria. But nothing could be proved and the investigation was declared inconclusive.

Algeria, to this day, has not forgotten the incident which is reflected by Coach Vahid Halihodzic’s statement. "We have not forgotten. Everybody has been talking about Algeria and Germany from 1982."   

It was after this incident that FIFA decided to host group stages matches at the same time.

Algeria will face Germany in the round of 16 in the World Cup and will be looking to have their vengeance.