World Cup 2014: Wild celebrations in Algeria after they reach knock-out stage

A 1-1 draw with Russia took the north Africans into the knock-out stage for the first time in their history

Patrick Markey
Friday 27 June 2014 19:20 BST
Comments
Algeria fans in France celebrate their team's progress
Algeria fans in France celebrate their team's progress (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Algerian fans turned their capital into a frenzy of fireworks, chants and dancing on Thursday to celebrate their team’s passage into the World Cup’s final 16 for the first time.

Draped in Algeria’s green-and-white flags, fans packed downtown Algiers watching their team draw 1-1 with Russia on a large screen near the historic Grande Poste among the city’s white-washed colonial buildings. The point secured second place behind Belgium in Group H and Algiers erupted into an explosion of fireworks, car horns, singing and chants of “1, 2, 3 Viva L’Algerie”. A ship’s fog horn blasted out from the Bay of Algiers in celebration.

“Magnificent. What a pleasure to go through. It’s our first time, we are representing all Arabs and Muslims,” said fan Hassan Saheb discussing Algeria’s progress to the tournament’s knockout stages. “Everything is possible now. It’s not a science, it’s a game.”

It is the first time in four attempts that Algeria have made it past the first round. “They did it,” read the headline from El Watan newspaper, declaring “The Greens make history.”

Threat: Algeria progressed ahead of Russia and South Korea in Group H
Threat: Algeria progressed ahead of Russia and South Korea in Group H (GETTY IMAGES)

In France, police arrested 74 people as thousands of Algeria fans took to the streets, with riot police firing tear gas in one case to disperse a crowd after scuffles in the southern port city of Marseille. Celebrations in Algiers were tempered slightly by the prospect of facing Germany in the last 16.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in