Youcef Belaili: The Phantom of Suez
In the most anticipated game of the quarter finals, Algeria faced Ivory Coast in Suez. Algeria’s impressive display in this African Cup of Nations to date made them the favorites to win the title. As for Ivory Coast their sub-par performance meant that despite the big names being available for selection it took them a late Zaha goal to overcome Mali in the previous round.
Ivory Coast’s performances have improved vastly after the introduction of Wilfred Zaha into the starting eleven, and the shift from 4–2–3–1 to 4–3–3 after the Morocco game. In the 4–2–3–1 Jean Michael Seri wasn’t suited to the number 10 position and acted as a third midfielder which had less defensive duties but didn’t provide the creativity up-front.
Against Algeria they continued with the 4–3–3 formation, while the Algerians continued with the 4–3–3 they started the competition with. The Ivorians’ slow paces and over-circulation of the ball in recent games meant that their wingers couldn’t excel in 1 v 1 situations, as by the time the ball reaches the winger the tempo of the game is slow and the opposition players are near to double up. This time instead of over-circulating the ball Ivory Coast were direct in their passes towards the winger. Decreasing the number of passes in any sequence so that the ball reaches the winger as fast as it can.
Max Gradel and Zaha benefited heavily from this change in approach. It meant that once the ball reached their feet Youcef Atal and Ramy Bensebaini were stuck in a 1 v 1 situation with the other Algerian players too far to double up. Gradel was close to scoring the first goal of the game after Ibrahima Sangare switched play to the other flank where Gradel only had Atal to face. Gradel’s well placed shot was saved by the fingertips of Rais M’Bolhi and the left post. Two minutes after that chance Jonathan Kodjia played the ball towards the right wing for Zaha on an offensive transition. Zaha managed to get past Bensebaini and crossed it for Kodjia, but the striker missed the ball from six yards out.
If any of these chances went in, the game could have played out differently, but after the Kodjia chance Algeria slowly entered the game. Algeria’s hybrid 4–3–3/4–2–3–1 ensures that the opposition can’t build up easily as when out of possession Sofiane Feghouli pushes up to press the opposition’s deep midfielder and the system is more of a 4–2–3–1 without the ball. Thus denying the easy circulation of the ball during the build up phase. But it didn’t matter here as Ivory Coast were in constant search of quick direct passes towards the wingers.
What mattered though was the phantom-esque positioning of Youcef Belaili. Rather than playing on the wing to combine with Ismael Bennacer and Bensebaini, Belaili positioned exclusively in the left channel roaming towards the center to eventually become a virtual number 10. While Baghdad Bounedjah pinned both center backs, the 3 v 3 in midfield cancelled themselves out, and Mamadou Bagayoko stayed in his position to keep compactness of the defensive line, Belaili had the freedom to act as a number 10 behind Serey Die. He drifted from the inside left channel towards the center coming from an angle that is the blind spot of Serey Die.
Belaili’s subtle movement towards the aforementioned space made him a good passing option for the Algerians. In the thirteenth minute, Riyad Mahrez benefited heavily from that. The City player cut inside then combined excellently with Belaili taking out the Ivorian midfield then dropping a shoulder to bypass Bagayoko but his shot went near the post. Now that the left wing is vacated with Belaili’s movement, this helped Bounedjah to continue his approach of winning long balls behind the opposition full backs. Aided by Bensebaini, Bounedjah managed to double up against Bagayoko and set up the ball excellently for Bensebaini. The left back cut the ball back towards the penalty spot for an onrushing Feghouli whose shot hit the back of the net to give Algeria the lead.
Bounedjah’s only goal this competition doesn’t justify his performance as arguably the best center forward in the competition. His attack of space, constant movement, aerial ability and link up play eases things for his colleagues. Early in the second half Bounedjah found the ball in the inside right channel behind Wilfried Kanon. Mehdi Zeffane who replaced the injured Atal at right back played a long ball towards the right side of the field which bounced deceiving Kanon. Bounedjah managed to get a penalty but the striker hit the bar denying Algeria from their second of the game.
Bounedjah’s fears came true when Ivory Coast’s direct approach finally paid off. On a counter attack Serey Die quickly found Zaha who was lucky when Mahrez returned his pass to him by mistake. Zaha penetrated the midfield then squared the ball for Kodjia on the right. Kodjia went pass Benlamri with an excellent first touch with his right, then stuck the ball into the back of the net with his left.
Despite Algeria’s control of the game Ivory Coast looked dangerous once the ball reached Zaha or Gradel’s feet on the wings. There was still time in the game though, and Belaili wasn’t finished yet. Again positioned brilliantly behind Serey Die he managed to find Bounedjah with a through ball taking out the Ivory Coast defence. Bounedjah trying to make up for his missed penalty was denied by the Ivorian keeper Sylvain Gbohouo.
Both teams approaches was working effectively as the second half was reaching its end. Ivory Coast found Gradel quickly on the right wing, his cross provided Zaha with an opportunity to score the winner. Also, on the other side Belaili combined with Bounedjah to give the Esperance player a chance to score the winner. Both players missed their chances though as the draw looked like it’s taking over.
To change things up Djamel Belmadi introduced Adam Ounas and Islam Slimani in place of Mahrez and Bounedjah respectively. Switching the approach to a more direct one based on crosses for Slimani. Initially it didn’t work out as the Ivorian defence won most of the headers. But in extra-time Belaili appeared again. Untracked in the same space, he chested down Guediora’s long ball for Feghouli but the Galatasaray player’s shot went wide. In the second half of extra time, positioned freely in midfield, Belaili controlled Benlamri’s ball and played a high ball behind the Ivorian defence for Slimani. The latter’s header was saved by the well positioned Gbohouo.
Penalties beckoned and ironically Belaili missed, but the misses of Serey Die and Wilfried Bony meant that Algeria reached the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations for the first time since 2010. Ivory Coast’s approach worked but the execution in the final third failed them, same goes to Algeria who had more chances but also failed to finish them.
Belmadi’s coherent team has been the most impressive thus far and his ideas have been interesting and more importantly effective. Algerian players speak highly of their manager in each and every press conference. Most notably their captain Mahrez stating that they haven’t worked on tactical situations this efficiently since a long time. From Bounedjah’s attack of the space, and the Feghouli-Mahrez switch to Belaili’s virtual number 10 Algeria have provided the most interesting and expansive football. Yet there are still two games to go for Belmadi’s men to reach the heights of 1990.
