Austria coach denies world cup match-fixing allegations against Algeria

The Austrian national team coach, Ralf Rangnick, has dismissed speculation of a match-fixing arrangement with Algeria following their dramatic 3-3 draw in the final group-stage match of the World Cup, a result that secured both teams a place in the Round of 16.

The German tactician pointed to the frenetic final minutes—where Algeria’s captain, Riyad Mahrez, nearly sealed a last-gasp 3-2 victory at the 93rd minute before Austria’s substitute striker, Sasa Kalajdzic, scored an almost instantaneous equalizer—as proof of the game’s unpredictable nature.

“In a 3-3 draw, no one can claim it was prearranged, especially after witnessing those final 90 seconds,” Rangnick stated. “Three minutes from the end, if someone had predicted that outcome, they would have been called insane.”

Reflecting on his four-decade career, the Austrian manager admitted he had never seen a match unfold with such unpredictable twists and spectacular turns.

“Most people expected a dull 0-0 or 1-1. Instead, we got 3-3. Unbelievable. Pure madness in the locker rooms. Even Alfred Hitchcock would have struggled to craft a more outrageous script,” he quipped.

Rangnick emphasized that both sides remained fully committed to attacking until the final whistle, long before Mahrez’s decisive strike.

“Anyone watching the last 15 minutes knows there was no hint of a fixed result,” he insisted. “They wanted to win. No one suddenly decided at the 93rd minute to ‘let’s score another goal.’ Maybe a couple of Algerian players entertained the idea, but not the rest of the team—and certainly not me.”