Morocco’s Women U-17 coach Younes Rabie blames physical and tactical differences for Germany defeat

Morocco U-17 women’s head coach Younes Rabie has blamed physical and tactical differences for his side’s 4-2 defeat to Germany in the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Tuesday.

The Atlas Lionesses suffered their first setback in the group-stage encounter, with Rabie admitting that his players struggled against a German side that had an advantage in physical strength, individual quality and tactical organisation.

Speaking after the match, the Moroccan coach explained that his team attempted to correct the mistakes that affected their performance in the early stages of the game but acknowledged the challenges posed by their opponents.

“There are significant physical differences between the two teams, as well as disparities at the individual and tactical levels,” Rabie said.

Despite the defeat, the coach insisted that competing against strong national teams at the global tournament remains an important opportunity for his young players to gain valuable experience and improve their development.

He believes the exposure to high-level international competition will help the players understand the demands of the game and prepare them for future challenges.

Rabie also stressed that the team would continue working to improve their performance as they prepare for their crucial final group-stage fixture against Argentina.

The Moroccan coach described the encounter as decisive, with the Atlas Lionesses needing a positive result to keep their hopes of progressing in the competition alive.

He expressed confidence that his players could respond positively to the disappointment against Germany and urged them to approach the Argentina match with greater determination and concentration.

Rabie also thanked Moroccan supporters for their continued encouragement throughout the tournament, acknowledging the backing they have provided both from the stands and through messages and videos sent to the players and technical staff.

He called on the fans to maintain their support ahead of the decisive encounter, which could determine Morocco’s fate in the competition.

The Atlas Lionesses will now focus on securing a positive result against Argentina in their final group-stage match as they seek to recover from the 4-2 loss to Germany and keep their World Cup campaign alive.