Bensebaini and Algeria’s World Cup dream shattered right at the death

Ramy Bensebaini and the Algerian national team will not be taking part in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. A painful last-minute defeat to Cameroon in the second leg of their World Cup qualifying play-off on Tuesday denied Algeria the chance to progress to the finals.

Algeria

After winning 1-0 against Cameroon in the first leg of their World Cup final round play-off, Ramy Bensebaini and Algeria suffered a bitter, bitter 2-1 (A.E.T.) defeat in the second leg on Tuesday, with the winning goal coming in the fourth minute of stoppage time via Karl Toko Ekambi (120’+4). Before this, Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting had given Cameroon the lead on the night (22’), and Ahmed Touba had initially scored an equaliser in the 118th minute which would have sent Algeria to Qatar. Bensebaini was suspended for this game and so was forced to watch from the sidelines as Cameroon progressed to the World Cup on away goals and Algeria’s dream of participating at a fifth World Cup finals was taken away from them at the very death.

Germany

After Hansi Flick’s side sealed a 2-0 win over Israel on Saturday, Germany then played out a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands on Tuesday. Thomas Müller gave the away side the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, before Steven Bergwijn equalised for the hosts in the 68th minute. This goal was followed by Florian Neuhaus’ introduction into the match, his tenth appearance for the DFB-Team. He came on in the 69th minute for Jamal Musiala. Defender Matthias Ginter was an unused substitute.

Austria

Austria managed to draw with Scotland on Tuesday evening despite going two goals down (2-2). Stefan Lainer was on the bench for the full 90 minutes. The hosts took the lead through Jack Hendry (28’) and John McGinn (56’), before Michael Gregoritsch got one back for Austria (75’) and Alessandro Schöpf scored a late equaliser to bring the scores level (82’), ending Franco Foda’s four-and-a-half year tenure as head coach with a draw – the Mainz-born coach announced on Monday that he was going to step down.

Switzerland

Nico Elvedi and Breel Embolo of Switzerland couldn’t get more than a draw in their international friendly against Kosovo. Former Bundesliga player Milot Rashica opened the scoring for Kosovo (52’), but Jordan Lotomba drew Switzerland level just ten minutes later and made it 1-1. Elvedi started the game, making his 36th appearance for his country and celebrating his comeback from a positive Corona case. He was substituted off after 63 minutes for Fabian Frei. Breel Embolo also got minutes, coming off the bench in the 62nd minute.

Luxembourg

Borussia defender Yvandro Borges Sanches and Luxembourg suffered a 1-0 defeat in their friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with seasoned veteran and former Bundesliga striker Edin Dzeko scoring a spectacular winner in the 86th minute. Borges Sanches was introduced in the 73rd minute in place of Sebastien Thill and made his eighth international appearance.