Riyad Mahrez has announced his retirement from international football with Algeria, following their disappointing elimination from the recent tournament against Switzerland. The news comes amid widespread criticism of the national team’s performance and the tactical decisions of head coach Djamel Belmadi.
Algeria failed to progress past the group stage, prompting harsh assessments from Algerian media outlets. DZFOOT criticized a perceived lack of application from players, describing them as “too soft” both defensively and offensively. La Gazette du Fennec labelled the team’s showing as “insipid” and conceded that the elimination was “difficult to contest.”
Mahrez himself was specifically singled out for underperformance by DZFOOT, who noted he was “very little danger, very little offensive, not particularly useful in pressing and not particularly useful in construction.” The outlet also questioned Belmadi’s future as coach, citing his decision to play Ibrahim Maza as a false nine as a “disastrous bet.”
Mahrez, 32, has represented Algeria 91 times, scoring 31 goals. He was a key figure in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, where he captained the side to victory. His departure represents a significant loss of experience and quality for the national team. While no official reason beyond his announcement was given, the intense scrutiny following the tournament exit is widely believed to be a contributing factor. The player's decision brings an end to a distinguished international career marked by moments of brilliance and a pivotal role in Algeria’s recent successes. This leaves a void in the Algerian squad that will be challenging to fill as they look to rebuild for future competitions.
