Belhadj and Yebda brace themselves for Egypt v Algeria
Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda will face a powder-keg atmosphere tonight when both Pompey stars attempt to earn Algeria a place at next year's World Cup.
The Blues duo are both named in the Desert Foxes squad for the play-off decider with African rivals Egypt in neutral Sudan after both sides finished with identical records from their qualifying campaigns.
Algeria knew that a 1-0 defeat in Cairo would have been enough to secure their passage to South Africa next summer.
But after reported Blues target Amr Zaki had fired Egypt ahead, Pharaohs substitute Emad Moteab's dramatic header deep into injury-time sealed a 2-0 win, forcing a knock-out tie between the two countries for the final African qualification place.
Belhadj, who played the full game at the weekend, is expected to retain his place in the Algeria side.
And Yebda, who was an unused substitute for the clash, looks set to miss out again as he recovers from the calf strain that kept him out of Pompey's recent defeat at Blackburn.
But aside from the huge incentive of a place at the World Cup, the intense feeling between the nations makes the Pompey and Saints rivalry look like a park kickabout with the kids.
Before Saturday's clash, the Algerian team bus was attacked as windows were broken and the players were left shaken while three were treated for facial cuts.
But it underlines the hostility between the nations that some sections of the Egyptian media alleged the Algerians had feigned the attack themselves and smashed the windows of their own bus.
The bad feeling dates back to 1990 World Cup qualifying when the Algeria players hurled plant pots into the crowd after losing out on a place to Egypt and more trouble then flared at a post-match reception.
The Egyptian team doctor had his eye gouged out with a broken bottle and Algerian striker Lakhdar Balloumi was subsequently convicted and sentenced to prison for the assault.
But the latest episode of violence suggests security will need to be as strict as possible ahead of the Sudan showdown and officials have already announced that around 15,000 riot police will be on duty for the game.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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