CAIRO: Algeria star Abdelkader Ghezzal played down the pressure his side will face during their last World Cup qualifier with Egypt at Cairo Stadium.
The Desert Foxes will be hosted by the African champions on Nov. 14 in a crucial Group C qualifying match that will largely determine which team will go through.
A lengthy verbal joust has been developing over the past few days, with Egypt skipper Ahmed Hassan assuring that the Algerians trip to Egypt will be “terrifying .
However, Ghezzal is convinced that the Pharaohs home advantage won t be as influential as widely thought.
I don t believe in the pressure factor, the Siena forward told Algerian newspaper Al-Fager. Football is all about pressure and stress and I can handle it.
I once played at San Siro before 80,000 spectators and scored.
We are the best team in the group. We beat Uruguay, so how come we can t defeat Egypt?
Group C leaders Algeria have 13 points, three ahead of second-placed Egypt with one match remaining.
They also boast a four-goal advantage over Hassan Shehata s men.
A 3-0 victory for Egypt will see them progress to the World Cup due to a better goal difference.
If Egypt beat Algeria by a two-goal margin, either a draw or a play-off game will determine the group winners because both teams will become equal in goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head record.
Algeria need to win, draw or lose by a one-goal margin to ensure they will become one of Africa s representatives at the most important FIFA tournament.
