In the wonderful world of clichés, what does the Coupe du France represent? Cold, rotten lawns, and a few exploits. Jackpot, this 2024-2025 edition keeps all its promises, and the round of 16 played at the beginning of January only accelerated things. Indeed, five clubs playing at the amateur level managed to qualify for the eighth. Those eliminated will have no regrets, since they fell with the honors of a penalty shootout or after excellent performances. That's it for the front side. The tail side points towards Ligue 1. A championship in which the clubs supposed to be driving forces (Marseille, Rennes, Lyon, Monaco) have broken their teeth and displayed – once again – their inability to compete with the Paris Saint-Germain in such an open competition.
Little ones know how to play too
Before we play the role of killjoys, let's focus on the positive. With five amateur clubs among the sixteen remaining teams (pending the Haguenau-Dunkirk duel, postponed due to bad weather), the idealistic contract is fulfilled. Seeing a student stop the penalties of Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso boosts morale, in the same way as the victory of AS Cannes over Lorient, leader of Ligue 2. But well beyond the result, it is above all the way that is to be emphasized. Indeed, if the feat can be judged by the differences between amateurs and professionals, on the ground, it was almost impossible to tell the difference.
Against Olympique Lyonnais, Bourgoin-Jallieu mastered his subject well – evidenced by the realism of Mehdi Moujetzky on his double, before screwing up his Panenka during the penalty shootout. « When we leave the initiative, the intensity and the ball to this team, it means that we are not there and that we do not measure the consequences of a defeat like this. », also analyzed Pierre Sage after the slump. In Saint-Brieuc, town of Annecy, and Dives-Cabourg, the football on offer was also pleasant. The days of bus parking and late tackles seem to be over. Now we play. A sign of good health for French football? Yes, if we want to be reassured. Espaly, eliminated, had no problem looking Paris Saint-Germain in the eyes. Kevis Gjeçi's opening score, at the end of a Nice collective movement, or Maxence Fournel's equalizer at the end of the match, after the second Parisian goal (where some teams would have already given up) are another illustration of this. Thanks to them. However, once all this praise has been distributed, the dunces remain. Bad students who were supposed to energize the Ligue 1 class, but who, this year even more, have failed in their responsibilities.
Where are the other locomotives of French football?
In this dynamic of the awful, OL and Rennes are rather ugly headliners. Getting off to a bad start in the championship, despite the budget and the squad to have a decent season, the Rennes shot themselves in the foot again by losing to Troyes (1-0). At the same time saying goodbye to a potential run in the Coupe de France that feels like a breath of fresh air. In Lyon, apart from the sadness of this elimination, shining in the cup would also have been an opportunity to “ justify » John Textor's multiple outings since the start of the season. Raised against everything and everyone (PSG in reality), the American has transformed his club into an agitator behind the scenes, while the field cannot be put aside. Now he doesn't have much left.
Less noisy – although, with Medhi Benatia at the head – Olympique de Marseille could also play their card by going to the end. Objective assumed since the club's last trophy in 2012 (Coupe de la Ligue), the Coupe de France has been refused to OM since 1989. Little varnished by the draw this season (Saint-Étienne then Lille), the Marseillais could nevertheless have open several doors given the teams still in the running. But at the Vélodrome, LOSC had the last word and Benatia lost his team. Last contender, Monaco also confirmed its return to the ranks, which began in December in the championship.
In the middle of this field of ruins only PSG remains. Criticizable in certain aspects, the capital club continues to be impeccable on the pitch. They were said to be in difficulty against Espaly, but the Parisians still qualified and already see themselves on the road to a sixteenth title in the Coupe de France. Unless Brest, Lille or Nice, the only real dangers, decide to stop them. Unlikely, as it stands. In conclusion of this January mapping, France will therefore have had good news and bad news. The bad, to see PSG go it alone, for lack of credible competitors, and the good, to find a little Tom Thumbs in his life. Textor wanted stories, he got it.
Can John Textor be the white knight of French football?
