Factbox: Algeria

Colours: White shirts, socks and shorts, all with green trim

Nickname: Les Fennecs (desert fox)

Previous World Cup appearances: 1982, 1986

Best World Cup performance: Failed to past the first round in previous appearances

Coach: Rabah Saadane

Most capped player: Mahieddine Meftah 95

Top goalscorer: Abdelhafid Tasfaout 35

Squad:

16-Faouzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif). Goalkeeper. Born Dec. 5 1984. Caps 9. Goals 0.
Got away with the bizarre head-butting of a referee at January's African Nations Cup finals, receiving a brief ban when the Confederation of African Football decided they did not have enough evidence to properly prosecute him. Had been warned his fiery temper could have cost him a place in the squad.

1-Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef). Goalkeeper. Born Sept. 28 1977. Caps 48. Goals 0.
The first-choice goalkeeper during the qualifiers but suspension meant he missed the playoff against Egypt in November that got Algeria to the World Cup finals. Injury kept him out of the Nations Cup tournament in Angola in January.

23-Rais Ouheb Mbouli (Slavia Sofia). Goalkeeper. Born April 25 1986. Caps 1. Goals 0
Newly capped goalkeeper who spent the two weeks before the start of the World Cup preparations on trial at Manchester United. Former French junior international who came on as a substitute against Ireland last week. His father hails from the Congo but his mother was born in Algeria.

12-Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-Mer). Defender. Born Jan 28. 1986. Caps 1. Goals 0.
French youth international who turned down previous overtures from Tunisia to play for their national team. His father is from Tunisia and mother Algerian, qualifying him to play for three countries.

3-Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth). Defender. Born June 18 1982. Caps 44. Goals 4.
One of 11 former French youth internationals who have switched to play for Algeria since FIFA changed its statutes. Played in two French Cup finals with Sedan and Racing Lens and was at Olympique Lyon for their title-winning season in 2007-08, although he barely featured during the season and was sold after six months of his 3 million euros ($3.66 million) deal.

2-Majid Bougherra (Rangers). Defender. Born Oct. 7 1982. Caps 40. Goals 4.
Popular centre back at club and international level where fans recognise his commitment. Almost single-handedly dragged Algeria to a surprise semi-final appearance at the African Nations Cup earlier this year.

5-Rafik Halliche (Nacional). Defender. Born Sept. 2 1986. Caps 16. Goals 1.
Highly-rated centre back who has been linked with several top French clubs after strong performances in the Nations Cup. Left Algeria for Madeira in 2007 and has been a consistent performer in the Portuguese league in recent years.

14-Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif). Defender. Born July 9 1981. Caps 7. Goals 0.
The only locally-based player selected among the outfield positions. Played at right back in the Nations Cup after returning to the side in 2009 following a five-year international exile. Helped his club to win last season's Algerian championship and the Arab Champions League title.

18-Carl Medjani (Ajaccio). Defender. Born May 15 1985. Caps 0.
A teenage prodigy who was signed by Liverpool in 2003 in a controversial move from St Etienne but not long after let go back to France after failing to make an impact. Said he had to re-evaluate his career last year after a lean spell. Can play as either a central defender or a defensive midfielder.

20-Djamel Mesbah (Lecce). Defender. Born Oct. 9 1986. Caps 1. Goals 0.
Utility player from the Serie B champions who was selected after Algeria coach Rabah Saadane went to watch him play in a search for additional Algerian talent. Is considered as a potential left back but he can play in the midfield. Scored three times as a makeshift striker this season for his club.

4-Antar Yahia (VfL Bochum). Defender. Born March 21 1982. Caps 43. Goals 5.
Scored the stunning volleyed goal from an acute angle to hand Algeria their World Cup ticket after they beat Egypt 1-0 in a playoff in November. Was signed as a teenager by Inter Milan but made his senior debut at Bastia in France's Ligue 1 followed by spells at Nice and Bochum.

22-Djamel Abdoun (Nantes). Midfielder. Born Feb. 14 1986. Caps 6. Goals 0.
Elegant midfielder who was highly rated as a teenager at Paris St Germain and later went on loan to Manchester City but failed to make an impact. Made his debut for Algeria in World Cup qualifier against Rwanda last year and used as first-choice substitute by Algeria in the Nations Cup in Angola.

7-Ryad Boudebouz (Sochaux). Midfielder. Born Feb. 19 1990. Caps 1. Goals 0.
Has already played more than 50 Ligue 1 games for Sochaux with six goals in the process over the last two seasons. Chosen in the wake of Algeria's desire to beef up their squad.

17-Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton Wanderers). Midfielder. Born Nov. 12 1985. Caps 1. Goals 0
He has credited a loan move to England for his surprise inclusion in the World Cup squad. He is now poised to make permanent his move from Belgium's Charleroi.

21-Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes). Midfielder. Born Dec 5 1983. Caps 1. Goals 0
French-born newcomer whose career had been played out in anonymity in the lower leagues of France until his move to Valenciennes at the start of the season. Has not seen much Ligue 1 action but still made enough of an impact to convince the Algerians of his potential as an attacking midfielder.

8-Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander). Midfielder. Born Feb. 5 1984. Caps 2. Goals 0.
Made his debut in March in a 3-0 home defeat by Serbia. French-born but spent most of his career in Spain. He was first called up by Algeria in 2006 but did not play and missed the 2010 Nations Cup because his wife was pregnant.

6-Yazid Mansouri (Lorient). Midfielder. Born Feb. 25 1978. Caps 66. Goals 0.
Made his debut for Algeria against the country of his birth when the north Africans played France in Paris in 2001. Now captain of the side and a hard-tackling midfield prowler. He spent the 2003-04 season in England with Coventry City.

19-Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth). Midfielder. Born May 14 1984. Caps 9. Goals 0.
Another of Algeria's injury woes ahead of the finals. He is suffering from an abductor problem. Plays on the left side of midfield and moved to Portsmouth from Benfica in 2009. Won the under-17 World Championship with France in 2001.

15-Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg). Midfielder. Born Aug. 17 1982. Caps 54. Goals 4.
Had a disappointing run with the 2008-09 German champions this season after moving to the Bundesliga from France. His tricky and often selfish play is not well received. Had spent the two previous years at Olympique Marseille. Plays wide for Algeria on the right side and likes to run at defenders.

11-Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens). Forward. Born March 8 1984. Caps 15. Goals 3.
Has returned to the squad after missing the Nations Cup. He possesses the pace that has been missing in the front line of the Algerian side in recent months

9-Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena). Forward. Born Dec. 5 1984. Caps 18. Goals 3.
Workman-like forward who makes up for a lack of skill with strong physical presence and a high workload. Has been linked with a move to Roma after the Serie A season in which his club were relegated and he scored six times.

13-Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach). Forward. Born June 25 1985. Caps 22. Goals 2.
Makeshift striker who looks more comfortable in the midfield. Hails originally from Strasbourg but had to cross the border to make his career in Germany, first at Freiburg and then at Gladbach.

10-Rafik Saifi (Istres). Forward. Born Feb. 7 1975. Caps 59. Goals 18.
The oldest player in the squad is now in the twilight of a career. Has played in several Nations Cup tournaments. He was a major force in the Algerian league before moving to France a decade ago.