Morocco may be already eliminated from the World Cup, but Mbark Boussoufa wants his side to give the country a performance to be proud of when they bring down the curtain on their campaign against Spain today.
Morocco lost their opening two Group B matches 1-0 despite being the superior team for large spells to both Iran and Portugal.
Yet they were left to rue some wayward finishing in Russia. Subsequently, Herve Renard’s men were the first side to bow out of the tournament.
However, Morocco have the chance to end a first World Cup since 1998 on a high against Spain, the 2010 world champions, in Kaliningrad.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, Spain opened with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Portugal before eking out a 1-0 victory again an obdurate Iran.
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Asked how to raise team spirits following what he described as a “painful” defeat to Portugal in Moscow last Wednesday, Boussoufa, the former Al Jazira midfielder, said: “Well we have to be. It’s been 20 years since we have been to the World Cup, so you have to enjoy it also of course.
“If you look at the players, that’s what they do all the time: they’re enjoying, they’re playing, they’re showing a positive attitude. Of course, you want the result.
But it’s not worked out like that and we have to accept that and we have to show ourselves again, because there’s a lot of people counting on us.
“And we have to give everything no matter what. Even if we have zero points now we have to continue and show that we’re willing to fight, willing to play good football. Until now we did that and we have to just continue. Even though, and especially because, it’s against one of the biggest teams in the tournament.”
