On June 28, ahead of Morocco's match against the Netherlands, Morocco's goalkeeper Bounou spoke emotionally about a photo that recently went viral on social media.

The photo showed three young Moroccan fans climbing onto a rooftop late at night just to watch their national team, the "Atlas Lions," play in the FIFA World Cup. Bounou said he was deeply moved by the image and believes it underscores the meaning of his fight for his country.

Bounou stated that such authentic and pure moments are the greatest motivation for Morocco's national team players to fight on the pitch.

He said, "Seeing our fans support us with such sincerity, every player feels a special sense of responsibility. We understand more deeply what the national team means to the Moroccan people, and we appreciate the deep emotional bond between fans and the team. This is why we are willing to give more effort and make greater sacrifices in every match."

When asked what reward these children deserve, Bounou said the best gift for them would be seeing Morocco's national team continue to win.

He said, "We hope to invite them to our national team training camp to meet the squad, or invite them to watch matches in person. I believe they truly deserve such an opportunity. It's just a small gesture, but enough to repay their pure love."

Bounou expressed his gratitude to all Morocco's fans, saying the entire team knows the nation is watching this match and that supporters have always stood firmly behind them. He promised all supporters that every player will fight with all their strength for the badge on their chest and the national team uniform until the final minute, hoping to repay fan support with brilliant performances and write new history for Moroccan football together.

Bounou also stated that such scenes once again prove that in Morocco, football is no longer just a sport, but shared memories and emotions that bind the entire nation together.

"No matter the circumstances, whenever a match takes place, the Moroccan people will be with the national team. This love is deeply moving."

"Fighting for the jersey" is Morocco's greatest strength

Bounou emphasized that Morocco's players' greatest characteristic is always stepping onto the pitch with confidence to fight for their country.

He said, "The greatest advantage our players have is that they always play with fighting spirit, with determination to fight for the national team jersey."

"Because we know that behind us are millions of hearts supporting us, and the entire nation is behind us. This strength helps us overcome the toughest moments in matches and gives us an endless source of spiritual motivation."

Bounou stated that the entire team is thrilled to be competing in Mexico. Since arriving, they have felt a warm welcome from the Mexican people. Whether outside the hotel or during team travel, many fans have cheered them on. This support comes not only from Moroccan fans but also from many Mexican supporters. Bounou expressed sincere gratitude for this and hopes to repay all supporters with an exciting performance.

Speaking about teammate Brahim Díaz, Bounou praised him highly. He stated that since the FIFA World Cup began, Díaz has maintained excellent form and made significant contributions to the team. He believes Díaz will continue to perform at a high level in upcoming matches and help the team achieve ideal results. Bounou believes Díaz is a true star player, and great players always show up in the most important matches—something he's confident everyone will see again.

Regarding the penalty shootout topic that has drawn public attention, Bounou stated that the team's current focus is entirely on the match itself, and they won't preemptively consider whether the match will go to penalties. However, he emphasized that the team is fully prepared for all possible scenarios. Whether the match ends in 90 minutes, goes to extra time, or is ultimately decided by penalties, Morocco will face it in peak condition—the preparation and mindset every FIFA World Cup team should have.

Regarding his ball-playing approach during matches, Bounou stated there is no fixed pattern for goalkeeper distribution; everything must be assessed based on the actual situation on the pitch. He said: "I don't think it's about having a fixed pivot point. Sometimes we choose to play a long pass directly because there's no better passing option nearby; other times it's because sending the ball sixty meters from our goal is always safer than losing it twenty meters from our goal. So everything depends on the specific match situation at that moment. As for what people say before the match, there's nothing too special about it. The FIFA World Cup is every player's dream. We all know this will be one of the most important moments of our lives. So we're all eager for the match to begin."

Regarding the growing number of countries and fans beginning to pay attention to Morocco's team, Bounou stated that the team's real focus is always on the match itself. He said: "What we really care about is that tomorrow will be a great match. Our opponent is a great team with many outstanding players. Morocco is also a great team with many outstanding players. Therefore, this will be an exciting and highly anticipated match. I'm confident we're ready and will certainly be able to deliver a worthy performance for this match. That's what matters most."

Bounou specifically expressed his gratitude for the support given to the team by Mexican fans. He said one thing he most wants to say is "thank you"—thanking the Mexican people for their continued support of the team and their warm welcome to Morocco here. He hopes the team can deliver an exciting performance that allows Moroccan and Mexican fans to share beautiful FIFA World Cup memories together.

Finally, Bounou once again thanked all Morocco's fans for their continued support.

He said fans have always been an important part of every achievement of Morocco's national team. "Moroccan fans have been, are, and will always be the team's most important partner, the essential force behind every success and every achievement."

"It is precisely because of their continued support that we can keep surpassing ourselves, continue to write new chapters for Moroccan football at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and strive to showcase our best competitive level."

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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