- Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Fans give fearless predictions for Algeria-Belgium match
- Date: 17th June 2014
- Summary: BELO HORIOZONTE, BRAZIL (JUNE 17, 2014) (REUTERS WIDE OF BELGIAN AND ALGERIAN FANS OUTSIDE STADIUM CHEERING MORE OF BELGIAN AND ALGERIAN FANS TOGETHER ALGERIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) AKRAM AOULMI, ALGERIAN FAN, SAYING: "Today, between Belgium and Algeria, it's Algeria 2 Belgium 1." ALGERIAN FANS WITH POSTER OF ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ABDELAZIZ BOUTEFLIKA MORE OF ALGERIAN FANS SINGING BELGIAN FANS CARRYING BRAZILIAN FLAG/ SINGING BRAZIL SONG BELGIAN FANS STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GIY NICOLAS, BELGIAN FAN, SAYING: "Belgium 3, Algeria 1 - for Belgium (Eden) Hazard, (Steven) Defour and (Romelu) Lukaku" ALGERIAN FAN WITH NOISEMAKER ALGERIAN FANS POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH ALGERIAN SHIRT SOCCER FANS HOLDING FLAG OF OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES BELGIAN AND ALGERIAN FANS WALKING AWAY TOGETHER
- Embargoed: 2nd July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA4ZAKMYTNF06M8YWSU47G2QBOS
- Story Text: Dozens of noisy soccer fans from Belgium and Algeria arrived hours early at the stadium where their teams will play their World Cup first group match on Tuesday (June 17).
Holding their respective flags, fans from both teams sang and chanted outside the newly-refurbished Mineirao Stadium in Brazil's Belo Horizonte, waiting for the gates to open for the 1pm local (1600 GMT) kick-off.
Not surprisingly, each camp gave fearless predictions.
"Today, between Belgium and Algeria, it's Algeria 2 Belgium 1," said Algerian fan Akram Aoulmi.
"Belgium 3, Algeria 1 - for Belgium (Eden) Hazard, (Steven) Defour and (Romelu) Lukaku," said Belgian fan Giy Nicolas, referring to those he thinks will bring victory to Belgium which is making its first World Cup appearance in 12 years.
Algeria are making their second consecutive World Cup appearance and coach Vahid Halilhodzic had said his team was prepared to face Belgium, who are the overwhelming favorites in the game.
Belgian coach Marc Wilmots had said he felt no pressure ahead of Tuesday's match.
The Algerians have a mountain to climb with Belgium featuring some of Europe's finest players but their defenders were slow, said the experienced coach who has also coached Ivory Coast and clubs in France, Turkey, and Croatia among others.
Other teams in Group H are South Korea and Russia. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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