In March, Algeria will face Botswana and Mozambique in the 5th and 6th days of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Without a usual starter in Vladimir Petkovic?
While he occupies a prominent place in the Feyenoord Rotterdam squad, Ramiz Zerrouki will not participate in the Champions League clash against Bayern Munich this Wednesday. The cause is an injury which could keep him away from the field for several weeks.
Arriving in 2023, the midfielder has established himself as an essential cog in Brian Priske's collective. Since the start of the season, he has played 22 matches in all competitions, scoring one goal and providing one assist. In selection, the Algerianwho has 41 caps and 3 goals with the Fennecs since 2021, has also become an essential pillar for his country.
An injury before a major shock
His absence comes at the worst time, while his club is fighting to reach the final phase of the LoC. The tipping point came during the championship match against Willem II on Saturday (1-1). In the 81st minute, the midfielder collapsed to the ground after a harmless duel. Forced to leave the field prematurely, he let his teammates finish the game without him. The first diagnoses did not take long to worry, and the fears were confirmed by Brian Priske at a press conference:
« Ramiz will not be with us against Bayern. His absence will be longer, but we don't yet know exactly what's wrong with him. “, explained the tactician yesterday.
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The timing is all the more catastrophic as Feyenoord already has to deal with an overloaded infirmary.
Facing a team as formidable as Bayern Munichwhich remains one of the favorites of the competition, every detail counts. Without Ramiz Zerrouki, Feyenoord loses a key piece in the midfield, a player capable of stabilizing the middle and ensuring transitions. His absence constitutes a hard blow for the Dutch club, but also a concern for Vladimir Petkovic, coach of the Fennecs. By March, the environment could be restored. Let's see how long his absence – which can be measured in weeks – will last.
