World Cup 2026: Islam Slimani blasts Algeriaâ??s lack of identity
Islam Slimani has delivered a sharp post-match assessment of Algeria’s 2026 World Cup exit, arguing that the team’s real problem goes far beyond the 2-0 defeat to Switzerland.
The former Desert Foxes striker, speaking as a beIN Sports consultant, said the national side has been suffering from instability for nearly two years and lacks any clear football identity.
“The problem plaguing the team has existed for almost two years,” Slimani said, blaming the constant changes made by Vladimir Petkovic for stopping the team from building rhythm and continuity.
He pointed out that Algeria keep switching between systems from one match to another, but without the automatisms needed to make either one work properly. In his view, the issue is not whether the team uses a classic striker or a false nine, but whether the players truly understand and trust the structure around them.
Slimani also questioned the preparation behind the false-nine setup, saying such a system requires coordinated movement and clear mechanisms. He argued that Algeria now rely too much on individual brilliance from players like Ait-Nouri, Mahrez, or Maza instead of collective patterns. For him, the biggest concern is simple: the team does not yet play with a recognizable style, and that is why the defeat in Vancouver felt so familiar.
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