The worst was feared. And unfortunately, the worst has been confirmed. Victim of a shoulder injury in training ten days ago, Anthony Mandrea will undergo surgery. The 29-year-old Algerian goalkeeper is officially out of the 2026 World Cup. It was his coach in Caen, Gaël Clichy, who announced the sad news this Wednesday.
“Anthony Mandrea has to have surgery on Wednesday, his season is over. It’s over for the World Cup. He accepted it, somehow, there’s not much he can do », Confided the Caen coach.
And to add: “ I’m a very positive person so I told him that when certain doors close, sometimes others will open a little later. Obviously, it’s always disappointing. Personally, I played in perhaps the darkest World Cup in the history of the French team (2010), but I would re-sign to experience it if it was offered to me, it means so much to a player. »
Algeria, the massacre among goalkeepers continues
“I can only be disappointed for him, because I know what he’s missing, continued Clichy. But there are very good things to do, he is young. If he chooses the right club in the future, if he performs well, he can still win two World Cups. »
The Fennecs could also be deprived of Melvin Mastil for the World Cup. The 26-year-old goalkeeper, who earned his first cap against Guatemala (7-0), will have surgery for an inguinal hernia. While waiting to learn more about the exact duration of his unavailability, Luca Zidane is emerging as the big favorite to keep the Greens’ cage during the World Cup.
