We want to spring a surprise: Bougherra

Madjid Bougherra, who plays for Lekhwiya Sports Club in the Qatar Stars League, will spearhead Algeria’s challenge at the  World Cup. (AFP)Agencies/Sao Paulo Transitioning from a show-stopping player at Lekhwiya Sports Club in the Qatar Stars League to captaining Algeria’s 2014 World Cup team, Madjid Bougherra has certainly earned his stripes this season.When Bougherra was named an ambassador for adidas this season he joined the likes of Leo Messi and Dani Alves in representing the leading brand in football on the global stage. In fact, he’ll be kitted out in the same adidas Battle Pack f50 boots as Messi in Brazil. With Algeria gearing up for their first group stage match against Belgium on June 17th, the Lekhwiya player has a crucial role in helping connect sports fans in Qatar to the excitement on the ground in Brazil – something his sponsors at adidas know the value of. In this interview, Bougherra said he was excited to represent Algeria on the biggest stage on earth. Excerpts Q: How do you feel about playing for Algeria, the only Arabic team to qualify for this year’s World Cup? We wish there were more Arabic teams but they were unlucky in the qualifying rounds. We’re proud to be representing Arabs and hope to deliver good results throughout the tournament. Our team is not just playing for Algeria, but representing the Arab world in Brazil. It’s a responsibility we respect. We’re representing all Arab countries, so we want to showcase a good image of fair play on the pitch. We must show that Arabic players can produce quality football. For me personally, being an ambassador for a brand like adidas is a great opportunity to show that players from this region are considered amongst the likes of Messi, Beckham, Zidane. I’m very proud.What are Algeria’s chances to progress into the second round? Our chances are high. We have a good team and we believe we can produce a good result. We need to focus on each match individually and play a consistently good game. Going to the World Cup is every footballer’s dream. Now the dream is few days away from becoming a reality. When you go to the World Cup and play in these games, you say, this is the biggest competition in the world with the best players in the world. But we’re all still the same players, we all have two legs and two hands. Of course, some players are more talented, but everyone is out to play their best against the world’s best. You helped propel Algeria through to the World Cup with your final goal, leaving many to consider you as the most important player on the team. How do you feel about this?Scoring is important for a team, but a team wins because of their team effort, their training, and their focus. It’s also the result of the goalkeeper and defensive players working together in an amazing way. The entire team is involved with winning a match. The most important thing is always the team effort. I just translated that into the net towards the end. At that stage in the game though, you don’t care how you play, you just need to win. That’s it. We needed a win to qualify and it was a very tough game.  Your group consists of Belgium, Russia and South Korea. What do you want to achieve in the group phase?We’re in a difficult group, which is better for us because we have nothing to lose. We can only give everything and play the football we know how to play. If we stick to this, without the pressure, and do what the coach says, then I’m confident in how our team will play. If we lose, many people will not be shocked, but we want to surprise people. The first aim is to escape the group phase and show that Algerian football has improved. The country’s supporters insist on this. How do you feel before the World Cup? I’m very excited; playing in the most important tournament, the World Cup is the dream of every footballer. Adidas says that to win the world cup, you must go all in or nothing – there is no choice but to give everything you have and this is the mindset I am going into the tournament with. When I hear the Algeria national anthem in that opening game and I know the entire world is watching it will be very exciting. For Algerians, football is everything and to be at the World Cup is something that makes our fans very proud. To see the Algerian flag raised among the best 32 countries in the world is huge for us. The most important thing for the fans is that we give it our all on the pitch and play with passion in a smart way. When you do that, and play with your heart, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose the game, fans at home or abroad will respect you. Madjid Bougherra is an adidas football ambassador. Get closer to the action of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil with adidas @adidasMENA, facebook.com/adidasfootball and at adidasallinarena.com