They have two options on their drawing board, a win or a draw would see them through and make them national heroes.

The Fennec Foxes of Algeria will today clash against Russia in a decisive group H encounter that might see any of the teams move to the round of sixteen. Algeria currently occupies the second place with 3 points and better goal difference.

A victory for the boys of Vahid Halilhodzic will automatically move them to the round of sixteen and a draw will also be enough, except South Korea secures a big win over Belgium that has already qualified.

Her immediate rival Russia that has so far registered only a point needs a victory at all cost if they wished to feel the heat of the knock-out phase. But should South Korea beat Belgium, it would then require the goal difference to separate the Russians and South Koreans having registered the same number of points each.

With the above analysis just possible scenarios, most soccer pundits have described the encounter as, a glaring opportunity for the Algerian national team to erase the bitter memory of 1982 when they were controversially butted out of the World cup competition after Germany and Austria played a result that suited them. The two teams meeting two days after Algeria had won its last group game, settled to 1-0 win for West Germany at the expense of Algeria. The embarrassing display prompted FIFA to introduce simultaneous kick-offs for the final group games.

On the other hand Fabio Capello’s squad that is making a come back after twelve years of dormancy, has a reasonable chance of progressing to the knock-out stage. With a squad highly dominated by locally based players, the team has shown a lot of character (despite a draw and defeat), and is expected to go out in full gear, “We have no other option than to go out and beat Algeria”. Capello said during a pre-match press conference. However if Russia fails to qualify for the next round they are sure to participate in the next World Cup in 2018 through its status as host.

Though both sides last met 50 years ago in a friendly and drew 2-2, it would be the first time they will be meeting at the final phase of the FIFA World Cup competition. The match to take place at Baixada Arena Curitiba, will be handled by a Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir. Players to watch for Algeria, Sofiane Feghouli, Madjid Bougherra and Russia, Alan Dzagoev, and Alexander Samedov. Kick off has been slated for 9 p m local time.