Cups of tea and a roaring crowd: Sydney’s Algerian community gathers for World Cup nailbiter

O n a rainy day in Sydney’s Surry Hills, a small crowd rushes into a small cafe draped in the green and white flag of Algeria, gathering around a TV with dreams of seeing their country make the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 12 years. Greetings are exchanged in French as small plastic cups of tea are handed out. The smell of spices wafts through the cafe as flames burst from a pan in the kitchen. There is a nervous feeling in the air at Cafe Tanja because a loss would mean elimination for Algeria, who have been waiting for the chance to play Austria since the “Disgrace of Gijón”, the 1982 World Cup match where West Germany settled for a 1-0 win over Austria at the expense of Algeria who were knocked out on goal difference. Algeria fans gather around the TV at Cafe Tanja on Sunday. Photograph: James Gourley/The Guardian Abdou, 25, sits down at the back of the cafe, which serves Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian food from north Africa. Originally from France, he ventured out to the World Cup in Los Angeles to watch Algeria beat Jordan, before arriving in Australia two days ago. He found Cafe Tanja through Instagram and wanted to be around his fellow countrymen to see the final group game. Next to Abdou in the corner is Billy, 38, who moved to Australia from Algeria more than 10 years ago. He has been watching Algeria since he was little and is no stranger to sacrificing sleep in order to see his team play. …