Algeria coach Rabah Saadane refused to blame goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi for the blunder which handed Slovenia their first points at a World Cup with a 1-0 Group C win in Polokwane

In a match short on chances the Europeans benefited greatly from Chaouchi's handling, which had been suspect all game, with 11 minutes to go. The 25-year-old misjudged former West Brom midfielder Robert Koren's shot from outside the area and when it bounced in front of him he bizarrely allowed the ball to go past, clipping his shoulder and hitting the net.

"Everyone saw what happened with the ball, and what happened on Saturday with England's goalkeeper," Saadane said. "You have to adjust to the flight of the ball."