Cheering for Algeria

Sometimes there is no shame in defeat; for the final whistle is only but the beginning of the next challenge. The problem with trying to acknowledge a team that gave it their all but ultimately couldn't quite get over the line is that it's very easy to undermine all that hard work.

I've always admired anyone or any team that goes our swinging. It's very easy to try and play football the "right" way when the odds are in your favour. When facing an uphill task, it's very easy to take shortcuts. To try and kick a team off the park because they have better players or to park the bus and reduce the game to a crawl because the opponent is dangerous in attack. But to ignore all that and insist on playing the same way, that requires a courage of conviction that should be commended. Algeria did not set out to simply frustrate Germany, they wanted to hurt them.

Commentators and media outlets rely so hard on platitudes that following Germany's agonising extra time victory over the ever vibrant Algeria, insult was added to injury. Words like plucky and brave make for a good narrative but also ignore the very real improvements made in Algerian football over the last four years.

By far the best African side in Brazil, every plaudit given to the Fennec Foxes over the last few weeks has been well deserved. Lambasted for their negativity in 2010, the turnaround is one that I hope will continue. Following their draw with Russia that guaranteed Algeria a spot in the next round, I bumped into five fans that had just been watching the game. It was incredible to see just how much it meant to them and very much underlined the idea of football bringing people across the globe together. That I could share in their joy only endeared them to me more.

Losing and winning - as distinct as they both are in their own right - both have shades of grey within them. Just as a team can win without doing much, they can lose having done everything to the contrary. Psychological factors sometimes mean that games are decided before a ball has even been kicked. The right mentality is no guarantee of success. For all the respect and commendation that comes with trying, ultimately it is the victory that will be remembered. In that regard, as good as they've been, I hope this tournament fades into the memory of Algerian folklore. If it stays at the forefront, it would represent a pinnacle and I for one certainly hope there is more to come.