Algerian football player Islam Slimani, now a sports analyst for beIN Sports, publicly criticized Algeria’s national team coach, Djamel Belmadi (often referred to as Petkovic in the article), following their 2-1 victory against Jordan in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match. Slimani stated the team lacks a discernible “playing identity” under Petkovic’s leadership. He made these comments during a studio analysis segment for the game. The criticism comes as Algeria aims to qualify for the expanded 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Details of Slimani’s full critique were not provided in the source text. The article originated from a sports news source and highlights tensions surrounding the national team’s performance and tactical approach.