A third goalkeeper at the table? A surprising choice changes Algerian calculations before the match with Switzerland sports

The Algerian national team reserved its place in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, but qualification did not end the state of anxiety within the “Greens” camp, especially in the goalkeeping position, which has become one of the most prominent weaknesses before the expected confrontation against Switzerland.

Zidane in the stands

Signs of frustration appeared on the face of Zinedine Zidane, who was in the stands of Kansas City Stadium, during Algeria’s loss to Argentina (0-3) on June 17, in a match he attended to support his son Luca Zidane, the Algerian national team goalkeeper. This scene reflected the amount of pressure surrounding the most sensitive center within the lineup.

Luca Zidane.. and the decision to represent Algeria

Luca Zidane, Granada’s goalkeeper, had officially chosen to represent the Algerian national team last September, after previously playing for French national teams in the junior categories. This decision sparked widespread controversy, between those who considered it a forced choice and those who saw it as stemming from personal conviction, which the player confirmed in his communication with coach Vladimir Petkovic over the phone, and then during his first meeting with him in Sidi Moussa.

An injury before the World Cup… and a promising start in the friendly match

Although he was called up for the 2025 African Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup, Luca’s preparations were not ideal, after he suffered a jaw-level injury (double fracture and chin injury), which kept him out of matches since the end of April. However, he gave a remarkable performance in the friendly match against the Netherlands in early June, which gave him the confidence of the technical staff and the position of starting goalkeeper at the beginning of the World Cup.

Costly mistakes and a shaky start to the tournament

But his participation in the World Cup was not successful, as he committed influential errors against Argentina, including a clear error in the first goal scored by Lionel Messi, in a match that ended 3-0. Despite the criticism, the coach continued to rely on him against Jordan, where he conceded a goal that could have been handled better without it being a completely direct error.

A change in the guard… and Ben Bot does not provide a solution

Coach Vladimir Petkovic decided to remove Luca Zidane from the starting lineup against Austria, justifying this due to his decline in performance. He said: “Luca Zidane’s absence as a first-choice goalkeeper is due to the performance he gave in the first two matches, and I preferred Osama Benbot because he deserves to play.” However, the substitute was not on time, after conceding three goals, and he presented a performance that was described as not reassuring.

Media criticism and worrying defensive numbers

Media criticism was not long in coming, as the DZfoot platform gave the goalkeeper a rating of 4.5 and described the performance as “disappointment,” considering that he bears part of the responsibility for the goals.

At the collective level, the Algerian national team conceded seven goals during the group stage, ranking 38th out of 48 teams in the ranking of the best defenses, according to local press reports.

Options are open before facing Switzerland

According to media reports, including the Spanish newspaper AS, the level of the two main goalkeepers did not inspire reassurance, which prompted the technical staff to keep all options open, including considering the inclusion of a third goalkeeper, Malvin Mastel, who is loaned this season to the Swiss club Stade Nyon in the second division.

Petkovic faces a crucial decision

In light of this complex situation, coach Vladimir Petkovic finds himself facing a crucial decision before facing Switzerland, in an attempt to find the defensive stability required to pass the round of 16 and continue the “Greens” journey in the 2026 World Cup.