Cyrille de La Morinerie, edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Matthieu Mirville / DPPI via AFP
The 32nd finals of the French Football Cup begin this Friday evening, like every year, they mark the entry into the running of Ligue 1 clubs. Meetings particularly awaited by amateur clubs, in search of an exploit, at the image of Sarreguemines or Petit Poucet, Saint-Omer.
There is great excitement in many amateur football clubs which will host professional clubs this weekend. This Friday evening the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France actually begin, with the entry into contention of Ligue 1 clubs and Toulouse, title holders. Everyone dreams of creating a feat, like Sarreguemines in Moselle, whose club plays in the sixth division. Its 85 volunteers are also on deck to host Valenciennes (Ligue 2), a meeting for which 2,500 supporters are expected this Friday evening.
On Saturday, Avoine Chinon, a fourth division amateur club in Indre-et-Loire, will host a Ligue 1 team, RC Strasbourg. “We just need to score a goal in the 91st minute and then everything will be fine!” smiles its president, speaking of his team’s chances. “I won’t hide the fact that in the corner of my head, every night when I go to sleep, I think about it,” the manager confides to Europe 1.
“Reassurance” for supporters in Pas-de-Calais
Petit Poucet this season is Saint-Omer, a sixth division team which will face its neighbor Dunkirk, a Ligue 2 club, on Saturday at 6 p.m. Despite the floods affecting the region, the match will take place in Saint-Omer since the pitch is passable. A meeting which will bring a little comfort to the inhabitants, confirms Audomarois President Yvan Billiau. “We have calls from supporters who are blocked today by the floods, and who are asking us to reserve their place for Saturday. Despite what is happening to them, they want to come and watch the match and think about something else,” he says.
Note that Sunday evening will be a memorable evening for the players of Revel, also in the sixth division, since they will welcome no less than the stars of Paris Saint-Germain.