Jordan coach Jamal Sellami said his players’ inexperience may have cost them in a 2-1 defeat by Algeria at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Monday, but he was proud of their World Cup campaign despite their early exit. Jordan bow out of their first World Cup after consecutive defeats in Group J, having lost 3-1 to Austria in their opener.
Match Details and Key Moments
The Algerian team made substitutions that might have made a difference, according to Sellami. “They had a very tall offensive player … I think our lack of experience allowed them to score from two corner kicks when we were waiting to make our own substitutions with the cooling break.” Despite the loss, Sellami emphasized the positives: “Generally speaking, we had a great match, and we should be proud of our performance. Very first experience in the World Cup, we were better than the first match.”
Support from Crown Prince Hussein
Sellami, who is Moroccan, revealed that Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein visited the players’ dressing room after the match and offered them congratulations. “Whenever you lose, there is always a negative feeling you’re not in the best state of mind as the players that they have shown, but his words were a tonic for their spirit.”
Looking Ahead to Argentina
Jordan still face Argentina in their final group match. Sellami sees this as an opportunity: “Now for us facing Argentina is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity for us to perform well and leave a great mark worthy of Jordanian football.” The team will aim to finish their debut World Cup on a high note despite being eliminated from knockout contention.
