View source for FLN football team

{{Multiple issues|
{{Expand French|Équipe du FLN de football|fa=yes|date=April 2010|topic=sport}}
{{Expand German|Fußballauswahl des FLN|fa=yes|date=April 2010}}
}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox National football team 
| Badge              = FLN football team (logo).png
| Coach              = 
| Asst Manager       = 
| Captain            = 
| Most caps          = 
| Top scorer         = 
| Home Stadium       = Various
| Overall record     = 
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| First game         = {{Fb|Tunisia|1959}} 1–5 '''FLN''' {{Flagicon|Algeria|1958}}<br>([[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]]; 3 May 1958)
| Last game          = {{fb|YUG}} 1–5 '''FLN''' {{flagicon|Algeria|1958}}<br/>([[Belgrade]], [[Yugoslavia]]; 29 March 1961)
| Largest win        = {{Fb|Tunisia|1959}} 0–8 '''FLN''' {{Flagicon|Algeria|1958}}<br>([[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]]; 15 April 1958)<br>{{fb|Morocco}} 0–8 '''FLN''' {{Flagicon|Algeria|1959}}<br>([[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]]; 8 October 1959) 
| Largest loss       = {{Flagicon|China|1959}} [[Tianjin]] XI 5–1 '''FLN''' {{Flagicon|Algeria|1959}}<br>([[Tianjin]], [[China]]; 25 October 1959)
}}
The '''FLN football team''' (in {{langx|ar|[[Image:Loudspeaker.svg|12px|Lire|link=Media:Ar-FLN soccer team.oga]]&nbsp; [[Media:Ar-FLN soccer team.oga|فريق جبهة التحرير الوطني لكرة القدم]]}},<ref>Pronunciation in Arabic is {{Audio|Ar-FLN soccer team.oga|''fariq jabhate al-taḥrir al-watani''}}</ref> in {{langx|fr|Équipe du FLN de football}}), also known as ''Le onze de l'indépendance'' ({{langx|en|The eleven of the Independence}}), was a team made up mainly of professional players in France, who then joined the Algerian independence movement of the [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|National Liberation Front (FLN)]], and assisted in organizing football matches against national football teams. The FLN linked African football to anti-colonial resistance using the idea of [[Pan-Africanism]] as a legitimizing tool and symbol of national identity.

==History==
The team was founded on 13 April 1958 during the war of independence against France.<!-- In the infobox, the date of the first match is listed as June 1, 1957. this apparent inconsistency needs clarification. --> The role of this team was primarily psychological, in order to show the [[Metropolitan France|French metropolitans]] that even professional footballers were involved in the cause, even to the extent of renouncing their status. Evidently so, in 1958 ten of Algeria’s professional football players based in France fled the country, traveling through Switzerland and Italy, to Tunis home of the Provisional Government of the republic of Algeria (GPRA). The departure of the ten players made news all around the world through mainstream media, though their successes were not acknowledged particularly in the United States. There was one setback at the Franco-Swiss border with the arrest of [[Hassen Chabri]] of AS Monaco and [[Mohamed Maouche (footballer, born 1936)|Mohamed Maouche]] of Stade Reims. Mohamed Maouche wanted to meet the group in Lausanne, Switzerland, but as he was still in the French army, and had been held up at French borders for a long time, he had to back out when information about the runaway players was published, for fear of being stopped at the borders. He preferred to return to France, where he was spared a court-martial. Hassen Chabri was arrested in Menton on the French-Italian border, where he was the subject of a court hearing. Like most Algerians arrested at the border, he was suspected of smuggling arms and money for the FLN. As he was unable to give the police a convincing explanation, he was imprisoned in Marseille and later convicted of undermining state security. However, he served his sentence in a prison camp in Algiers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Garin |first=Michel |date=2012-01-09 |title=La communauté arménienne d’Issy-les-Moulineaux de  922 à 1968 : origine, implantation et intégration |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.4000/ceb.1177 |journal=Cahiers balkaniques |issue=40 |doi=10.4000/ceb.1177 |issn=0290-7402|doi-access=free }}</ref>

The French authorities easily obtained the non-recognition of the team by FIFA. Despite the prohibition on play, the FLN team engaged in a world tour of about eighty meetings, including [[Europe]], [[Middle East]], [[Asia]] and [[Africa]]. Of these meetings, the FLN won 55 matches. As Algeria remained one of France’s oldest colonies in Africa since the 1830s, these football games were widely used by pro-independence propaganda. The objective of the FLN football team was to deny France the service of key players, heightening international awareness of the Algerian fight for independence and to demonstrate that the FLN had the support of both Algerians at home and those abroad.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alegi |first1=Peter |title=African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World's Game |date=2010 |publisher=Ohio University Press |isbn=978-0-89680-278-0}}</ref>

The team existed from [[1958 in association football|1958]] to 6 June 1962 when the "national" team was officially disbanded [[1962 in association football|1962]], bequeathing its place in [[1963 in association football|1963]] to its legitimate successor, the [[Algeria national football team]]. The overall idea of a national team in exile had its origins in the politicization of football, with the intention to create an arena for the anti-colonial resistance and road to liberation during the war of independence against France. Shortly after, Algeria gained its independence on 5 July 1962.

===ALN Team===
A year before the formation of the FLN team, two former Algerian players and coaches decided to train in Tunis, the first selection that would represent Algeria, they are Ahmed Benelfoul and [[Habib Draoua]]. In 1956, the team was formed. And in May 1957, the team was approved by the [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|National Liberation Front]] and decided that it would represent the [[National Liberation Army (Algeria)|National Liberation Army]] as there were players who came from the maquis. The team is mainly composed of amateur players playing in Algeria and Tunisia. Between May 1957 and April 1958, they played many matches in the Maghreb and the Middle East to support the independence cause; the team is credited with 42 victories. This selection will contribute to the birth of the formation of the FLN Team a year after its creation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.elwatan.com/edition/sports/un-seul-but-lindependance-de-lalgerie-13-04-2016 |title=Un seul but : l'indépendance de l'Algérie.. |language=fr-FR |work=El Watan |publisher= |date=13 April 2016 |access-date=4 November 2022 |archive-date=21 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021044913/https://www.elwatan.com/edition/sports/un-seul-but-lindependance-de-lalgerie-13-04-2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===FLN Team's Unique Playing Style===
The FLN was a unique football team because of their playing style, which was fluid and based on finesse. This approach to the game of football was very different from the norm. The most common form of playing football is based on a very complicated and scientific approach, while the FLN rather focused on fluidity. The FLN football team as stated by Rachid Mekhloufi who was a French football team manager, noted that the FLN used a 4-2-4 system of offense. This system gave players a great amount of flexibility in movement while playing a football game, which proved to be very effective. This offensive style of play used by the FLN team was also seen as entertainment and honorable by spectators. The usual football playing mechanics focus on defensive playing in order to lower the risk of the opposing team scoring a goal. This playing style was the normal way to play football in the 1970s, but not for the FLN team. The FLN team's unique playing style could be noted to lead to the FLN team's popularity and importance in the African struggle for freedom and equality.<ref>Peter, Alegi "How a Continent Changed the World's Game", 2010, Ohio University Press, Chapter 3 (Page 48)</ref>

==Player selection==
<!-- Players are ranked from oldest to youngest. -->
{{nat fs start no caps|clubheading=Club prior to FLN (Club after FLN)}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Abderrahman Ibrir]]|age={{Birth date|1919|11|10|df=y}}|club=[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] (''retired'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=GK|name=[[:fr:Ali Doudou|Ali Doudou]]|age={{Birth date|1927|1|5|df=y}}|club=[[HAMRA Annaba|USM Bône (USM Annaba)]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=GK|name=[[Abderrahmane Boubekeur]]|age={{Birth date|1931|3|13|df=y}}|club=[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] ([[MC Alger]])}}
{{nat fs break}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Mustapha Zitouni]]|age={{Birth date|1928|10|19|df=y}}|club=[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] ([[:fr:Vélo Sport chartrain (football)|VS Chartres]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=[[:fr:Chérif Bouchache|Chérif Bouchache]]|age={{Birth date|1929|5|8|df=y}}|club=[[Le Havre AC|Le Havre]] ([[JSM Skikda]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Mohamed Soukhane]]|age={{Birth date|1931|10|12|df=y}}|club=[[Le Havre AC|Le Havre]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=Abdallah Settati|age={{Birth date|1932|4|10|df=y}}|club=[[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]] (''unknown'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Smaïn Ibrir]]|age={{Birth date|1933|2|28|df=y}}|club=[[Le Havre AC|Le Havre]] (''retired'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=[[Dahmane Defnoun]]|age={{Birth date|1936|5|8|df=y}}|club=[[Angers SCO|Angers]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=DF|name=Khaldi Hammadi|age=''unknown''|club=[[Stade Tunisien]] (''unknown'')}}
{{nat fs break}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[:fr:Mohamed Boumezrag|Mohamed Boumezrag]]|other=[[Player-coach|player-manager]]|age={{Birth date|1921|6|13|df=y}}|club=[[SR Colmar|Colmar]] (''retired'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[:fr:Saïd Haddad|Saïd Hadad]]|age={{Birth date|1922|8|30|df=y}}|club=[[SC Toulon|Toulon]] (''retired'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[:fr:Mokhtar Arribi|Mokhtar Arribi]]|age={{Birth date|1924|2|24|df=y}}|club=[[AC Avignonnais|Avignon]] (''retired'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Abdelaziz Ben Tifour]]|age={{Birth date|1927|7|25|df=y}}|club=[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] ([[USM Alger]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[:fr:Hassen Chabri|Hassen Chabri]]|age={{Birth date|1931|4|25|df=y}}|club=[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] ([[CS Hammam-Lif]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Amar Rouaï]]|age={{Birth date|1932|3|9|df=y}}|club=[[Angers SCO|Angers]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[:fr:Boudjemaa Bourtal|Boudjemaa Bourtal]]|age={{Birth date|1933|8|22|df=y}}|club=[[AS Béziers Hérault (football)|AS Béziers]] (''retired'')}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Kaddour Bekhloufi]]|age={{Birth date|1934|6|7|df=y}}|club=[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] ([[USM Bel Abbès]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Ali Benfadah]]|age={{Birth date|1935|1|10|df=y}}|club=[[Angers SCO|Angers]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[Rachid Mekhloufi]]|age={{Birth date|1936|8|12|df=y}}|club=[[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] ([[Servette FC|Servette]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=MF|name=[[:fr:Abdelkader Zerrar|Abdelkader Zerrar]]|age={{Birth date|1934|1|10|df=y}}|club=[[CS Hammam Lif]] (''unknown'')}}
{{nat fs break}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Abdelhamid Bouchouk]]|age={{Birth date|1927|4|14|df=y}}|club=[[Toulouse FC (1937)|Toulouse]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Hamid Zouba]]|age={{Birth date|1930|6|8|df=y}}|club=[[Chamois Niortais F.C.|Chamois Niortais]] ([[FC Grenchen|Grenchen]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Saïd Brahimi]]|age={{Birth date|1931|3|17|df=y}}|club=[[Toulouse FC (1937)|Toulouse]] ([[JSM Skikda]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Abdelhamid Kermali]]|age={{Birth date|1931|4|24|df=y}}|club=[[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]] ([[USM Sétif]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[:fr:Hocine Bouchache|Hocine Bouchache]]|age={{Birth date|1932|4|20|df=y}}|club=[[Le Havre AC|Le Havre]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[:fr:Abdelkader Mazouz|Abdelkader Mazouz]]|age={{Birth date|1932|8|6|df=y}}|club=[[Nîmes Olympique|Nîmes]] ([[FC La Chaux-de-Fonds|La Chaux-de-Fonds]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Saïd Amara]]|age={{Birth date|1933|3|11|df=y}}|club=[[AS Béziers Hérault (football)|AS Béziers]] ([[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Amokrane Oualiken]]|age={{Birth date|1933|4|6|df=y}}|club=[[Nîmes Olympique|Nîmes]] ([[MC Alger]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Abdelkrim Kerroum]]|age={{Birth date|1936|3|25|df=y}}|club=[[AS Troyes-Savinienne]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[:fr:Mohamed Maouche (football)|Mohamed Maouche]]|age={{Birth date|1936|4|24|df=y}}|club=[[Stade de Reims|Reims]] ([[Red Star F.C.|Red Star]])}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Abderrahmane Soukhane]]|age={{Birth date|1936|11|13|df=y}}|club=[[Le Havre AC|Le Havre]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=[[Ahmed Oudjani]]|age={{Birth date|1937|3|19|df=y}}|club=[[RC Lens|Lens]]}}
{{nat fs player no caps|no=|pos=FW|name=Mohamed Bourricha|age=''unknown''|club=[[Nîmes Olympique|Nîmes]] (''unknown'')}}
{{nat fs end}}
<!----------
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
----------->

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alg-fln-intres.html ''Equipe FLN : History and Matches'' on ''RSSSF'']

{{Algeria national football team}}
{{Football in Algeria}}
{{Defunct national football teams}}{{Algerian War}}
[[Category:Former national association football teams]]
[[Category:Algeria national football team]]
[[Category:African national and official selection-teams not affiliated to FIFA]]
[[Category:1958 establishments in France]]
[[Category:1962 disestablishments in France]]
[[Category:Reactions to the Algerian War]]