Vladimir Petkovic hopes that, whenever Algeria’s run at the ends, he will receive a warm welcome home. He’s well aware that may not be the case though given that home is Switzerland; the very nation he will face in the Round of 32 clash in Vancouver.
Having spent more than a decade playing in Switzerland, Petkovic then coached a string of club sides before helming the national team for a seven years between 2014-2021.
The 62-year-old Sarajevo-born coach, who holds Swiss citizenship, admitted on the eve of the knockout stage clash that there will be mixed emotions, at least until kick-off arrives.
“I am a professional and always focus on the team I am coaching and try to give everything for them. Before and after the match I am open and sensitive regarding the possibility to meet people I know again, but I don’t want to mix that with results.
“I had great times in my seven years coaching Switzerland and my home is there and I’m proud of that but I am the coach of Algeria.
“As for my family, well they are not against me and I hope they support me! Because I need positive energy from home as well. Switzerland is the favourite for this match and we are outsiders but we have a great desire to reach the next stage and will give everything we have.”
In a match full of linked narrative threads, it will be quite literally a case of master versus apprentice on the touchline at BC Place. When current Swiss coach Murat Yakin was just starting out on his coaching journey, he crossed paths with Petkovic who was then in charge of Swiss club side Young Boys, as he recalled on the eve of their Canadian clash.
“We like each other and know each other very well. I think we are similar coaches, with similar profiles. I had the opportunity to do an internship at Young Boys, when I was doing my coaching diploma, and saw him work and the way he leads his teams.
“He has evolved and I have evolved so we can’t compare our paths but I can speak about him as a person. He is always friendly and respectful, the way we are among coaches, and I will be very happy to see him tomorrow.”
Their paths again intersected for two seasons in the Swiss Super League, after Yakin was appointed head coach of FC Thun in 2009. Echoing Yakin’s thoughts, it is clear there is plenty of respect both ways, as Petkovic explains.
“I still remember his time there [as an intern], we have good memories. He’s a great coach with many positive sides which he has brought into the team. They have achieved good results and I will be very happy to meet him again tomorrow.
“It is not Petkovic v Yakin though, it is Algeria v Switzerland. Of course I live there and I watch all their matches. I worked there for seven years and it was a big pleasure. The past is now the past though and the present is another day.
“The Swiss team has evolved, as we have, and while I will be happy to see the players I know from my time there we have a job to do for our people in Algeria.
“The pressure is on Switzerland because they publicly stated they want to make the quarterfinals and we have already secured two goals by making the tournament and then getting out of the group stage but we are also keen to win and keep progressing.” “We have seen the photos and videos of people in Algeria celebrating our success and we will have almost 30,000 fans here. This is a game we need to win and to do so we have to show blood, sweat and tears.”
Sources: FIFA Official
