The modern history of Algeria is full of twists and turns, characterised by intense periods of change which have led to the strengthening of an Algerian national identity but also tragic set-backs and challenges.
Football, more than any other sport, has the potential to unite any nation and the World Cup finals always demonstrate just how much we can all pull together behind our team. For fans, passions run high and a sense of communal belonging is magnified. Algerians are as passionate about their football as any other nation taking part in this year’s World Cup, if not more so. This passion for football that is found across all sectors of Algerian society from rich to poor, city-dwellers to rural communities, the religious to secular, is rooted in the fight to emerge from a colonial history into the modern world as a unified and independent state. This has, unfortunately, not been a simple task for Algerians who since independence from France in 1962 have faced decades of military rule, a decade-long civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s and a slow move towards economic development and democracy.
After all of these challenges though, Algeria has begun to really make strides forward in its development. The petering off of the civil war in the early 2000s allowed a sense of normalcy to return to Algerian society and an atmosphere of ‘business as usual’ helped to attract greater investment from abroad, more visitors and a greater sense of confidence in the ability of Algerians to achieve a better future. The scars and divisions that the civil war left, however, have not been all that easy to heal and what is needed now is a deepening of a sense of nation-hood, common identity and common pursuits. And what better occasion is there for a nation to be united than the World Cup finals as their team competes for sporting glory on the world stage?
And glory is not too strong a word to use as far as Algerians are concerned. There is much optimism in Algeria’s future now. Even though the world has been through some tough times since the end of 2007, the global financial crisis and recession has not hit the Algerian economy as much as it has affected other countries. High prices for oil and gas on the global market since the early 2000s have helped to buoy Algeria’s economic development and encouraged greater foreign investment in Algeria. This steady economic development along with increasing domestic stability and cohesion has begun to give Algerians a new sense of confidence in their nation’s abilities. The qualifying rounds for the World Cup finals also helped to reinforce national pride as Algeria overcame the defending Africa Cup of Nations champions, Egypt in a three-game battle which ended with a 1-0 Algerian playoff victory. Although Egypt and Algeria share a long and close relationship dating back centuries, their modern experiences of colonialism and independence have led to a unique identity for both, and this is nowhere more obvious than in the sporting world where Algeria and Egypt have become classic rivals. Beating Egypt and qualifying for the finals was, therefore, a real coup for Algeria.
While we are all very optimistic and hopeful for England’s chances in this World Cup we should not underestimate the passion and the confidence that this Algerian team will bring to the competition. England’s group rivals will all be highly-motivated but perhaps none as much as an Algerian team which is the very symbol of their nation’s dreams for a better future.
Dr Imad El-Anis
To speak to Imad, call the University Press Office directly on 0115 848 8785 or email worldcup@ntu.ac.uk
[To view Nottingham Trent University’s team of World Cup experts go to www.ntu.ac.uk/worldcup]
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