Algeria tried to keep all the details of its preparation for the 2026 World Cup a secret, although it seems that it didn't help much. The friendly match against Bolivia was played behind closed doors, with no television broadcast and restricted access for the press; however, some conclusions from the match came to light. One of those who provided some details was Carlos Lampe, goalkeeper of the Bolivian national team, who faced the African team and offered a complete analysis of their performance ahead of the debut against the Argentine National Team.
The team led by Vladimir Petkovic won 4-0 in Kansas and arrived at the World Cup clash with good feelings after also defeating the Netherlands in their previous match. However, Lampe believed that the final difference against Bolivia did not reflect what happened during much of the game.
"Algeria is a rival that I didn't feel pressed well. Throughout the first half, we came out clean", explained the goalkeeper, who also identified one of the areas where, in his opinion, the team shows the most weaknesses. "Their weakest side is when you progress on the left. There we could make a switch or have the center-back reset the play, attacking on Mahrez's side", he pointed out.
The experienced goalkeeper also emphasized that Algeria bases a large part of its offensive proposal on quick transitions. "They rely heavily on counterattacks", he asserted, particularly highlighting Mohamed Amoura, a forward from Wolfsburg and the top scorer in the African qualifiers. "He is very attentive to counterattacks. He is sharp. Perhaps he doesn't decide well, but after Mahrez, he is the standout", he described.
Based on that observation, Lampe left a recommendation on how Argentina should approach the match. "Breaking into space and arriving from behind. That's where the game is because they will be very closed, waiting for a counterattack", he stated. He also warned about the importance of avoiding losses in attack and maintaining defensive balance to neutralize the opponent's quick responses.
The Bolivian goalkeeper also revealed some specific details about set pieces. According to him, corners are usually taken towards the far post or the penalty spot, an aspect that will surely be analyzed by Lionel Scaloni's coaching staff.
