Belgium Vs Algeria at Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte
Managers
Marc Wilmots(Belgium)
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head- This is the first competitive match between the two countries. Their inaugural meeting in 2002 ended goalless. Belgium ran out 3-1 winners in a friendly a year later, Emile Mpenza scoring twice.
- Despite this being Belgium's first World Cup since 2002 they began the competition as fifth favourites to win the competition, behind Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Spain.
- Belgium are unbeaten in their last two World Cup group stages, in 1998 and 2002 (W1, D5).
- However, they have only won one of their last nine World Cup matches, 3-2 against fellow Group H rivals Russia in 2002. They have also kept only one clean sheet during that period.
- Eight of Belgium's last 14 World Cup goals have come from set-pieces: five from corners, two from direct free-kicks, and one from an indirect free-kick.
- Belgium played out the highest-scoring draw in World Cup history exactly 60 years ago to the day of this match - 4-4 against England.
- Algeria have failed to score in their last five World Cup matches, a record they share with Bolivia. It is 481 minutes since Djamel Zidane, no relation to Zinedine Zidane, scored their last goal back in 1986.
- The Desert Foxes have attempted 71 unsuccessful shots during this period.
- Algeria won six of their eight qualifying matches, losing to Mali and in the first leg of their play-off to Burkina Faso.
- Islam Slimani scored five goals in qualifying, the equal-highest of African players present at the World Cup, alongside Ivory Coast's Salomon Kalou.
- 17 members of the Algerian squad were born in France.
Belgium beats Algeria 2-1
Goal Scorers
For Belgium -Marouane Fellaini(70) and Dries Mertens(80)
For Algeria -Sofiane Feghouli 25th minute penalty
The Belgium players celebrate their first win against Algeria at the 2014 World Cup
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