Morocco Fall 2-0 to Russia in Final World Cup Friendly
Morocco ended their pre-World Cup preparations with a 2-0 loss to Russia in a friendly match on Friday. Despite an encouraging start, including a shot that struck the post, the Atlas Lions conceded the opening goal in the 29th minute to Vasily Berezoutski. Former Chelsea player Yuri Zhirkov sealed the victory for Russia in the second half with a stunning volley.
Coach Badou Zaki acknowledged the difficulties his side faced in the match. “It was a difficult match. The first half was even, apart from the lone goal scored by the Russians. The players were tired because of the heat. We lost a lot of balls,” said Zaki. He praised Russia’s organization and preparation under Fabio Capello: “Russia played well, especially their central defenders. They were more organized, and Mr. Capello got everything he wanted from this match.”
Zaki noted the challenges his team faced with player absences and fatigue after a long season. “Many players were absent. Others were not in shape after a long season. Overall, we are building a new team. This team has only three weeks of experience. We learned several good lessons from this match.”
Morocco now turn their attention to their World Cup opener against South Korea, looking to improve on their recent performances.
