Severely beaten by Germany (0-6) on July 24, Morocco will be playing for big points against South Korea in Adelaide on Sunday. The Atlas Lionesses will need at least a draw to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16 alive. Zayneb Amine Zouali, President of Tihad Athletic Sport (TAS), the oldest Moroccan club and whose mother, the founder of TAS, was a pioneer in the development of women's soccer in Morocco, is optimistic.
How did you feel about losing to Germany?
Losing to Germany, one of the best teams in the world, who are used to major competitions and have won several titles, was nothing out of the ordinary. We knew that Germany were the big favourites, and that it would be difficult for our players. But what surprised me, and I'm not the only one, was the final score. 6-0 is very heavy, and it hurt, especially for Morocco's first match at a World Cup finals.
Looking back, how do you explain this poor start?
I think the Lionesses probably found it hard to cope with the stress of playing in a major tournament. There was a lot of pressure, because they're not just representing Morocco, but the whole Arab world, since no Arab team has ever taken part in a World Cup before.I also think that the Moroccans respected the Germans a little too much, giving them a lot of freedom. But you can lose badly, and I liked the reaction of the players, who said they couldn't accept defeat."There may be some changes Do you think they'll be able to respond to South Korea?
Of course they can! They've got the quality to do it, the ability to beat them. Technically, I'm not worried.I think it's the psychological aspect that will be important, that they'll be able to break free. Because South Korea is a very good team.
A very good team who also lost their first match to Colombia (0-2)...Yes, which means that Morocco need to win, or at least draw, to keep their qualification hopes alive. A win would be very important before the final match against Colombia.
Do you expect Lionesses coach Reynald Pedros to make any changes?
It is indeed possible that he will change a few things, perhaps tactically.
He may also make changes to the starting eleven. But only he can answer that question.In any case, despite the defeat to Germany, the Moroccans are still behind their team and will be cheering them on Sunday. What's more, their presence at the finals can only be positive for women's soccer in the country. More and more girls want to play it, more and more people want to follow the matches, and more people want to invest in women's soccer. That's what we have to remember...
