Coupe de France: Five Memorable Upsets
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With Ligue 1 McDonald's clubs getting involved in the Coupe de France this weekend, we take a look at some of the biggest upsets in France's historic Cup competition.
The Coupe de France has always been the stage for some of French football's biggest underdog stories and giant-slayings. With Ligue 1 McDonald's clubs entering the Round of 64 this weekend, we send a word of warning to the Goliaths, and a glimmer of hope for those Davids with our countdown of the top five biggest upsets in Coupe de France history.
Calais RUFC vs. Bordeaux (2000)
Fourth Tier amateur outfit Calais captivated the nation with their incredible 1999-2000 Coupe de France run. They managed to beat a Girondins de Bordeaux side which featured many stars from their UEFA Cup-winning squad. Four fellow amateur sides and one semi-professional outfit (Dunkerque) were dispatched en route to the round of 32 and a clash with their first fully professional opponent, Lille, then a Ligue 2 side. After dispatching Les Dogues, Calais then saw off Strasbourg at Lens' Stade Bollaert. 'Calais-mania' had started to grip France, but it would go to another level after they faced Bordeaux.
The semi-finals brought them up against a Bordeaux side who had just won Ligue 1, with the likes of Christophe Dugarry, Lilian Laslandes and Johan Micoud in the side. With 40,000 fans travelling down in 250 buses to Lens, Calais's fans witnessed a special win in extra time against Les Girondins to set up a final clash against FC Nantes at the Stade de France. For 29 minutes Calais thought they could have done the impossible when they went one goal ahead - yet Nantes would come from behind to secure the cup late on and break hearts.
US Quevilly vs Olympique de Marseille (2012)
Third tier US Quevilly stunned a Marseille side full of the likes of André Ayew, Mathieu Valbeuna, and André-Pierre Gignac, to reach the semi-finals of the 2012 Coupe de France. A pure spectacle, the side from the suburbs of Rouen completed a 3-2 win over Les Olympiens thanks to two extra-time goals scored by John-Christophe Ayina. They would then reach the final of the Coupe de France for the first time in 85 years after seeing off Rennes, losing marginally to Olympique Lyonnais at the Stade de France.
Carquefou vs. Olympique de Marseille (2008)
Amateur side US Jeanne d'Arc Carquefou had already made history by knocking out Ligue 1 side AS Nancy Lorraine in previous rounds - but they would go one better when giants Olympique de Marseille came to town. Carquefou were 14th in the fifth tier at the time and had to face an OM side who were fourth in Ligue 1, and boasted talents such as Djibril Cissé and Samir Nasri. An early goal from Idrissa N'Doye was enough to see Carquefou through to the quarter-finals. They then were knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain in the following round.
Les Herbiers VF vs. RC Lens (2018)
Les Herbiers Vendée Football were a club from the third division, hailing from a small town in western France home to around 16,000 habitants. They made history in 2018 when they reached the final of the Coupe de France, but on their way they created a massive upset against Racing Club de Lens to reach the semi-finals. After a goalless draw, Les Herbiers triumphed in the penalty shootout (4-2) to set up a clash with Chambly in the semis. They then faced Paris Saint-Germain in the final, losing 2-0.
Le Puy vs. OGC Nice (2023)
Third tier Le Puy shocked Ligue 1 side OGC Nice in the 2023 Coupe de France. A solitary goal from Mohamed Ben Fredj was enough to knock out Les Aiglons in the Round of 64. It was a Nice side that featured a host of Ex-Premier League stars, such as Kasper Schmeichel, Ross Barkley, Aaron Ramsey, and Nicolas Pépé. It was a result which led to the sacking of Nice manager Lucien Faivre.
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