Player profile

The fleet-footed left-back begins the World Cup game by completing a two-match ban for his red card in the semi-final defeat to Egypt at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Belhadj was sent off for a two-footed lunge late on in that game and served one match of the suspension in the third place play-off.

He is one of many players in the squad to be born in eastern France, and even made two appearances for France’s Under-18 side before switching his allegiance to the country of his parents’ birth.

Belhadj missed the last two months of the Premier League season with hamstring and thigh injuries, but returned as a late substitute during the FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea.

A £4.4m signing from Lens after an initial loan spell, he has spoken of his desire to leave crisis-hit Pompey. There are no shortage of suitors – he has been linked with the likes of Barcelona, Roma, Celtic, Paris Saint Germain and Tottenham.

He started his career with Lens, but left without making an appearance. He then played for Second Division Gueugnon and Sedan before joining French champions Lyon in 2007. Belhadj was unable to displace Fabio Grosso and rejoined Lens in January 2008, moving to Portsmouth eight months later.