Algeria Draws with Austria and Advances to the Round of 32 in the World Cup

Algerian national team defender Rafik Belghali confirmed that the "Desert Warriors" approached the match against Austria with a winning mentality, noting that the thrilling 3-3 draw remains a positive result as it granted the team a ticket to the round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup.

Bougherra said in statements after the end of the match that the team aimed to secure the three points from the start, but he expressed satisfaction with the result given the scenario of the encounter.

He added: "We entered the match aiming for victory only, but in the end, we are very satisfied with the draw considering the course of the game."

He explained: "I believe we played a good match both tactically and physically, and the game went as we planned for most of its duration."

He said, "I am very happy with this qualification, and I also feel proud of the level we displayed against a strong European team."

He concluded: "We have finished the group stage, and now we must return to work and focus on our upcoming match against Switzerland, as the challenges will be greater in the knockout stages."