After Morocco’s elimination against France (2-0) in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, Yassine Bounou spoke to Argentine television to provide a particularly insightful analysis of the match. Despite saving a penalty against Kylian Mbappé and making several decisive interventions, the Moroccan goalkeeper acknowledged that the Atlas Lions were dominated in most areas of the game.
“We faced a team that was superior to us, that is the reality. Even tactically, we were unable to impose our advantage, as they surpassed us in all areas,” Bounou stated. The Al Hilal goalkeeper urged the group to accept this elimination, congratulate the opponent, and then get back to work to rebuild after the disappointment.
The Moroccan goalkeeper also explained the plan devised to counter the speed and physical power of the French team. Morocco aimed to keep possession of the ball to defend through possession and find spaces behind the French backline. A strategy that ultimately did not work. “We were not at our best, both technically and mentally. In a competition like the World Cup, these details do not forgive, especially against a team like France,” he lamented. Morocco, also deprived of several key players throughout the tournament, failed to replicate the level displayed in their previous matches.
Bounou also reflected on his penalty save against Mbappé. The goalkeeper explained that he waited until the last moment to sow doubt in the mind of the French striker. “I knew he was looking at me. The idea was to wait a little, make a movement to try to make him doubt, then I made my decision at the last moment,” he revealed. An intervention that allowed him to enter a bit more into the history of Moroccan football, even though it was not enough to keep the Atlas Lions in the competition.
Finally, Yassine Bounou emphasized the importance of mentally rebuilding after this new disappointment. He reminded that the group had already had to bounce back after a difficult Africa Cup of Nations before making a run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. “We must accept the reality: the opponent was largely superior to us. Now, we need to get back to work and rebuild from the emotions we feel today,” concluded the Moroccan last line of defense.
