Rachid Mekloufi,[1] where Les Fennecs caused a sensation by defeating European reigning champions West Germany in their first world cup appearance.[2] Despite this achievement, Algeria went on to be eliminated at the end of the group stage, thanks to a convenient result for both West Germany and Austria in their fixture, in what is known as the Disgrace of Gijon.[3] Austrian player Reinhold Hintermaier later admitted that that match was fixed.[4]
