Jordan Coach: The Fear is Behind Us, Off the Field We Are Brothers

Jordan's national football team coach, Jamal Sellami, assured that the nervousness among his players has dissipated ahead of tonight's match against Algeria – the second group J fixture for both nations in the World Cup.

The Jordanians, one of the debutant teams at the World Cup finals, suffered a 3-1 loss to Austria in their opening game. However, pre-match jitters and pressure were cited as contributing factors. Their opponents, Algeria, also began their World Cup campaign with a defeat, albeit against reigning world champions Argentina. Despite the loss, Jordan impressed with their fighting spirit before succumbing to Austria's organized play.

“We know that the fear from the first match is now behind us,” Sellami told the media on Sunday. “The players believe more in their abilities. They are now calmer and more confident and will give their best on the field.”

When asked about his expectations for the opponent, Sellami revealed: “They played against the world champions... The Algerian team is strong in attack, fast, and possesses important players – even among their substitutes,” he said.

Sellami is acutely aware of several off-field factors surrounding his team. Firstly, both teams enter the upcoming match without any points. Secondly, while Austrian discipline proved an unsolvable puzzle in their opener, Algeria presents a different type of challenge. Finally, the shared Arab roots foster a genuine closeness between the two nations and their people.

“We didn't receive a single yellow card, and that reflects the positive spirit of our team,” he stated. “Even more important than the result or anything else is the performance on the field, to show a very respectable face of the Jordanian team.”

“We love each other, and this match will reflect that Arab fraternal spirit. Off the field, we are brothers,” he added regarding Algeria.