Rangnick dismisses collusion talk after Austria, Algeria play out six-goal thriller
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 27 : Austria coach Ralf Rangnick scoffed at suggestions his side had played for a mutually beneficial draw against Algeria after Saturday’s chaotic 3-3 World Cup thriller. The dramatic finale that sent both teams through to the knockout stage, he said, was proof there had been no collusion. With a draw enough to send Austria through as Group J runners-up and Algeria into the last 32 as one of the best third-placed sides, the prospect of a convenient result had dominated conversation in the build-up. But Rangnick said the game’s extraordinary finale should silence any conspiracy theories. “In this match, when you have a 3-3, nobody can assume that it was an agreement, and especially what we saw during the last 90 seconds,” the 67-year-old said. The match exploded into life deep into added time. Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez put his side 3-2 ahead in the 93rd minute, only for substitute Sasa Kalajdzic to equalise with virtually the last touch of the game. “Three minutes to play, if somebody had said …