Mahrez leads final Algeria World Cup squad as Bentaleb returns

Bentaleb, aged 31, has not featured for the national side since last October but has been recalled to a squad that also welcomes back key attackers Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri, both of whom missed the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco at the start of the year due to injury.

Bentaleb took part in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where Algeria advanced past the first round, but he has endured several lengthy spells away from the team.

“We know Bentaleb well; he has all the qualities as a person for the group too,” Petkovic said. “He has shown he is in form over these last few months.”

Oussama Benbot, who announced his retirement from international football after being an unused substitute at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco at the turn of the year, has returned to help address a potential goalkeeping crisis.

The 31-year-old’s form played a significant role in his club USM Alger winning the African Confederation Cup final this month. He has frustrated Petkovic in the past with complaints about his lack of playing time.

Luca Zidane, son of French World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane, was Algeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the Cup of Nations but delivered several unconvincing displays and broke his jaw and chin in April while playing for his Spanish club Granada.

Algeria, who last appeared at a World Cup 12 years ago, will play a warm-up friendly in Rotterdam against the Netherlands on Wednesday before heading to the United States for another pre-tournament match against Bolivia in Kansas City on June 10th.

Algeria are in Group J alongside holders Argentina, Austria, and Jordan.

Algeria squad

Goalkeepers: Oussama Benbot (USM Alger), Melvin Masstil (Stade Nyonnaise), Luca Zidane (Granada)

Defenders: Achraf Abada (USM Alger), Rayan Ait Nouri (Manchester City), Zinedine Belaid (JS Kabylie), Rafik Belghali (Verona), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Samir Chergui (Paris FC), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys Bern), Aissa Mandi (Lille), Mohamed Amine Tougai (Esperance)

Midfielders: Houssem Aouar (Al Ittihad), Nabil Bentaleb (Lille), Hicham Boudaoui (Nice), Fares Chaibi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen), Yassine Titraoui (Charleroi), Ramiz Zerrouki (FC Twente)

Forwards: Mohamed Amine Amoura (VfL Wolfsburg), Nadir Benbouali (Gyori ETO), Adil Boulbina (Al-Duhail), Fares Ghedjemis (Frosinone), Amine Gouiri (Olympique de Marseille), Riyad Mahrez (Al Ahli), Anis Hadj Moussa (Feyenoord Rotterdam)

Standby goalkeeper: Abdellatif Ramdane (Mouloudia Alger)