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Algerians/Slovenians Abroad: Weekend Rewind

Matej Mavric 2 (Getty Images) 

By FRANCO PANIZO

Slovenian defender Matej Mavric did this weekend what no U.S. national team fan wants to hear come summer time. He scored on an American goalkeeper.

Mavric scored a penalty kick in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw against Kaiserslautern, beating Luis Robles with a chip shot down the middle that was somewhat reminiscent to that of Zinedine Zidane's in the 2006 World Cup final. The goal was the left back's fifth of the season and third in his last six matches.

Algerian forward Rafik Djebbour also found the back of the net this weekend, scoring on a spot kick that temporarily pulled AEK Athens level with Olympiakos in the Greek play-offs. Djebbour's goal would not hold as Olympiakos scored the winner in the 2-1 victory two minutes before the half.

Here is how the Algerians and Slovenians Abroad performed this weekend:

ALGERIA

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

  • Defender Nadir Belhadj did not dress in Portsmouth's 3-1 loss vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. He is recovering from a groin injury.
  • Midfielder Hassan Yebda did not dress in Portsmouth's 3-1 loss vs. Wolvehampton Wanderers on Saturday.
  • Forward Kamel Ghilas did not dress in Hull City's 2-2 draw vs. Wigan Athletic on Monday.

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Forward Hameur Bouazza did not dress in Blackpool's 1-1 draw vs. Bristol City on Sunday.

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

  • Defender Madjid Bougherra did not dress in Rangers' 2-1 win vs. Dundee United on Saturday.
  • Defender Ismael Bouzid dressed but did not play in Heart of Midlothian's 2-1 win vs. Hibernian on Saturday.

SPANISH LA LIGA

  • Midfielder Mehdi Lacen started and played 75 minutes in Racing Santander's 2-1 loss vs. Tenerife on Saturday.

ITALIAN SERIE A

  • Midfielder Abdelkader Ghezzal started and played 90 minutes in Siena's 2-1 loss vs. Palermo on Sunday.
  • Midfielder Mourad Meghni did not dress in Lazio's 2-0 loss vs. Inter Milan on Sunday.

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

  • Defender Antar Yahia came off the bench and played 63 minutes in VfL Bochum's 3-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday. 
  • Midfielder Karim Matmour started and played 45 minutes in Borussia Moenchengladbach's 6-1 loss vs. Hannover 96 on Saturday.
  • Midfielder Karim Ziani did not dress in VfL Wolfsburg's 1-1 draw vs. Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
  • Forward Chadli Amri came off the bench and played 12 minutes in Mainz 05's 2-2 draw vs. VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.  

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Forward Noureddine Daham did not dress in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw vs. Kaiserslautern on Sunday.

FRENCH LIGUE 1

  • Midfielder Yazid Mansouri came off the bench and played 1 minute in Lorient's 0-0 draw vs. Valenciennes on Sunday.

PORTUGUESE LIGA SAGRES

  • Defender Rafik Halliche dressed but did not play in CD Nacional de Madeira's 3-3 draw vs. Academica de Coimbra on Sunday.

GREEK SUPER LEAGUE

  • Forward Rafik Djebbour started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in AEK Athens' 2-1 loss vs. Olympiakos in the Greek play-offs on Sunday.

  • Midfielder Salim Arrache and PAS Giannina's season is over.

SLOVENIA

ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP

  • Midfielder Robert Koren started and played 90 minutes in West Bromwich Albion's 1-1 draw vs. Barnsley on Sunday.

ITALIAN SERIE A

  • Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic started, played 90 minutes and made five saves in Udinese's 2-2 draw vs. Cagliari on Sunday.
  • Defender Bojan Jokic started and played 90 minutes in Chievo Verona's 2-1 loss vs. Napoli on Sunday.

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

  • Forward Milivoje Novakovic started and played 90 minutes in FC Cologne's 2-2 draw vs. SC Freiburg on Saturday.

  • Defender Miso Brecko started and played 90 minutes in FC Cologne's 2-2 draw vs. SC Freiburg on Saturday. 
  • Forward Zlatko Dedic started and played 90 minutes in VfL Bochum's 3-1 loss vs. Bayern Munich on Saturday.

BUNDESLIGA 2

  • Defender Matej Mavric started, played 90 minutes and scored a GOAL in TUS Koblenz's 2-2 draw vs. Kaiserslautern on Sunday.

  • Midfielder Goran Sukalo dressed but did not play in FC Augsburg's 1-0 win vs. TSV 1860 Munich on Sunday. 

FRENCH LIGUE 1

  • Defender Bostjan Cesar and Grenoble did not play this weekend.
  • Forward Valter Birsa started and played 90 minutes in AJ Auxerre's 0-0 draw vs. Olympique Marseille on Friday.

DUTCH EREDIVISIE

  • Midfielder Dalibor Stevanovic started and played 77 minutes in Vitesse Arnhem's 2-2 draw vs. FC Utrecht on Sunday.

PORTUGUESE LIGA SAGRES

  • Midfielder Nejc Pecknik dressed but did not play in CD Nacional de Madeira's 3-3 draw vs. Academica de Coimbra on Sunday.

GREEK SUPER LEAGUE

  • Midfielder Aleksander Radosavljevic and Larissa's season is over.
  • Midfielder Mirnes Sisic and PAS Giannina's season is over. 

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What do you think of these performances? Any player(s) you're particularly worried about? Don't think Mavric would have the guts to try that type of chip shot on Tim Howard? Not too concerned about Djebbour's penalty kick-taking skills? Think Howard would have them both on lock?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think the U.S.–Slovenia game will be a tough game, also, but think the U.S. gets a 1-0 or 2-1 victory- nail biting. I also believe that the U.S. is more than capable of getting a result against England, maybe a 1-1 draw.

    Reply
  2. Luis Robles became the backup at Kaiserslautern because the Gold Cup made him miss all of training camp with the new coach and the #1 keeper, who he took over for last year when Sippel was injured, is the starter for the U-21 German National Team that just won the Euro Cup. Robles was given the start as a reward and may play the last game as well.

    Robles will be a starter next year.

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  3. Unless Luis Robles is our starting keeper I don’t know why that is relevent, he isn’t even the 3rd string or a consistent MNT B-Squad member…

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  4. Algeria just called up seven guys to their preliminary squad who haven’t played for the national team yet, but we might want to start following them. A lot of them are getting more playing time than Algeria’s regulars. New call-ups are Medjani (Ajaccio), M’Bohli (Slavia Sofia), Boudebouz (Sochaux), Kadir (Valenciennes), Belaid (Boulogne), Mesbah (Lecce), and Guedioura (Wolves)

    Reply
  5. We should beat Algeria, and will have a tough time against Slovenia, but I’m thinking a 2-1 win or 1-1 tie is realistic. We have to hope we crush Algeria and keep the England game close. It’ll come down to goal differential with Slovenia to determine who goes through.

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  6. Is is it me or has Robles’ form nose dived since his call up to the NT last summer? Up until that point I thought he was going to challenge for 3rd or 4th on the depth chart. He coughed up a hairball at the Gold Cup and hasn’t recovered.

    Reply
  7. loving that the algerians cannot find playing time. slovenia, however, getting a lot of playing time. is it june yet?

    Reply

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