French Cup. Thionville Lusitanos with his twelfth man to aim for the round of 16

US Thionville Lusitanos will play to a sold-out crowd this Sunday at the Guentrange stadium. 3000 people (the maximum capacity) are expected for this 32^e of the Coupe de France final. Many remember last season, when the residents of National 3 welcomed OM, again in a crowded Saint-Symphorien stadium.

On the Valencian side, 100 supporters will make the trip and stand behind a goal.

Without the titular goalkeeper

Julien François, the coach of US Thionville Lusitanos, will have to do without two elements this Sunday (5:30 p.m.) against Valenciennes. “There is no suspended player,” said the USTL coach. But two injured including the starting goalkeeper Théo Junker. The Moselle coach will have to do without the services of his winger Housseine Zakouani.

Towards a Masson – Masson duel?

On the Valenciennes side, four injured have been reported. Goalkeeper Jean Louchet (crosses), midfielder Sambou Sissoko and defenders Bakaye Dibassy and Souleymane Basse will not be there. Who, Papa Camara or Mathieu Michel, will take their place in the VA goals this Sunday? For a nice little anecdote, if the two players are lined up this Sunday, the Masson duel (both named Julien) will not be missed.

“First test” for VA

It's a well-known face that Moselle supporters will see again this Sunday. Vincent Hognon replaced Ahmed Kantari, laid off three weeks ago, on the bench. With the hope of relaunching the northern club, current 12^e from National. The Nancy native will meet Julien François, in the duel of tacticians, whom he also faced on the pitch a few years ago.

“Yes, this Coupe de France match is a first test,” concedes the former coach of FC Metz (2018 to 2020). “In attitude, we must be present all the time. We have no right to neglect that. Afterwards, at times, you come up against a team better than you, who can cause you problems. But I think that if we are present on this point, we can put a lot of teams in difficulty. But there is a prerequisite to all that, mental and athletic investment. I will constantly insist on this. »

The Thionville group : Zimmermann, Dupuis (goalkeepers). Poinsignon, Luvualu, Wanduka, Collet, Masson, Bourgeois, Moustaid, Groune, Baradji, Omosanya, Lauratet, Tela, Jacquel, Bouzar (captain), Marly Rampont-d'Audremont, Diabaté, Botulama. Absent : Junker (goalkeeper), Zakouani. Coaches : Julien François and Stéphane Borbiconi.