Mahrez opens fire on the “platos”
The captain of the national team, Riyad Mahrez, opened fire on the media and analytical platforms following the bitter exclusion from the competition, declaring a new phase of direct confrontation between the “Greens” leadership and the critics. Mahrez deliberately directed sharp criticism at some television analysts, relying on the language of numbers and the historical achievements achieved by his generation, in a clear step to redraw the boundaries between field technical criticism and what he sees as bidding that negatively affects the team’s surroundings. He said to reporters after the end of the Switzerland match: “Some of those who appear on television programs to criticize have not achieved even 5% of what I or this generation have achieved.”
These statements go beyond the offensive dimension to reveal the leader’s desire to assume the role of the group’s protective shield, as he publicly sought to divert public and media pressure towards his person and his rich history, aiming to protect rising talents who lack sufficient psychological immunity to face immediate judgments. His demand to give young people time and trust reflects an awareness of the necessity of providing a calm work environment that ensures the continuity of renewal of the team’s blood, away from the guillotine of destructive criticism.
Despite the division that this speech caused in the sports street, between those who considered it a legitimate defense from a leader who bears his responsibilities and those who saw it as an attempt to cover up the technical failure, the reality confirms that Mahrez took the battle to the challenge square. The leader sent a strong message of reassurance to his young teammates in the locker rooms, at the same time igniting a wide discussion about the standards of sports criticism and the controversial relationship between the national team’s professionals and opinion makers in the media scene.
The captain of the Algerian national football team, Riyad Mahrez, announced his retirement from international football, following the Algerian national team’s loss to its Swiss counterpart, 0-2, in the match that took place at dawn on Friday at BC Place Stadium in the Canadian city of Vancouver, for the sixteenth round of the 2026 World Cup finals. Mahrez explained in press statements after the end of the match against Switzerland, “This was my last match with the national team, and this is my last appearance in the national team jersey.” The “Greens” captain reviewed the outcome of the Algerian national team’s participation in the World Cup, considering that there are many positive aspects that can be extracted from this experience. He explained, saying: “Our goal was to reach the round of 16, and the match was within our reach. We conceded two goals due to two mistakes, and at this level the price for mistakes is paid dearly. There were positive things, as we succeeded in getting past the first round, and I believe we did not fall short. But we conceded a large number of goals, which prevented us from achieving a better journey.” Mahrez (35 years old) began his career with the national team in May 2014, before former coach Vahid Halilhodzic invited him to participate in the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil. Mahrez played 119 international matches with the national team, during which he scored 40 goals and provided 44 assists, concluding a busy career that spanned more than 12 years with the “Greens.”
