Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Cannes Rewrite Fairytale Script in French Cup
Seeking cup drama? Look no further than the Coupe de France in recent years. While Guingamp‘s triumph in 2009 remains the sole second-tier victory in three decades, an impressive ten teams from outside Ligue 1 have contested the final since 2006. Remarkably, five of these underdogs hailed from the third tier or lower. This year, Cannes, competing in France’s fourth-division, are defying expectations by reaching the semi-finals. Their journey to the final four has been unbeaten in eight matches, navigating past three Ligue 2 sides – Grenoble, Lorient, and Guingamp – all on home turf.
Cannes: The Unexpected Contenders
Cannes inherited the mantle of petit poucet (“little thumb”), awarded to the lowest-ranked team in the Coupe de France, following the exit of fourth-tier Stade Briochin against Paris Saint-Germain. Notably, two fifth-tier clubs, Bourgoin-Jallieu and Dives-Cabourg, also enjoyed deep runs to the last 16, with Cannes eliminating Dives-Cabourg in a 5-3 victory. This isn’t a typical underdog story, as Cannes are not conventional minnows. Former champions in 1932, the club also experienced a golden era in the late 1980s and early 1990s, nurturing talents like Zinedine Zidane and Patrick Vieira. After a financial crisis in 2014, The Friedkin Group, owners of Everton and Roma, acquired the club with ambitions to propel Cannes back into the higher echelons of French football.
Semi-Final Clash: Cannes vs. Reims
Les Dragons will host their semi-final encounter against Stade de Reims, benefiting from competition rules that grant home advantage to lower-league overachievers. Reims, currently facing difficulties in Ligue 1, were once a dominant force in French football, reaching the inaugural European Cup final in 1956 and securing a league and cup double in 1958. However, amidst these successes, Stade suffered a shocking defeat to Algerian side El Biar in a past Coupe de France upset. Could history repeat itself? “It’s akin to a casino – we’re going all in,” declared Cannes coach Damien Ott. “We are wagering everything, and at the moment, it’s proving successful.”
Other French Cup Semi-Final
The other Coupe de France semi-final pits PSG, who have claimed seven of the last ten league titles, against Dunkerque, a second-tier team vying for their inaugural Ligue 1 promotion. Dunkerque, similar to Cannes, have received a boost from fresh investment, with minority owner Demba Ba playing a key role. Les Maritimes narrowly progressed past sixth-tier Stade Béthunois on penalties in their opening match, before securing away victories against Auxerre and Brest, culminating in a high-profile tie in Lille, which will thoroughly test the competition’s capacity for surprise results.
Coupe de France Semi-Final Fixtures:
- Dunkerque v PSG (1 Apr)
- Cannes v Reims (2 Apr)
Arminia Bielefeld’s Surprise Ascent in DFB Pokal
Arminia Bielefeld, from the third tier, commenced their DFB Pokal campaign in August with a home victory against second division Hannover. Astonishingly, they could potentially reach the final without playing away from Bielefeld, a city whose existence is questioned by urban legend. Adding to the magic, this traditionally inconsistent club has triumphed over Bundesliga teams Union Berlin, Freiburg, and Werder Bremen to set up a home semi-final clash with the defending champions, Bayer Leverkusen.
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Arminia Aiming for Historic Final
Arminia, relegated from the top flight just three seasons prior, have already equaled their deepest DFB Pokal run from 2015, which concluded with a 4-0 defeat to eventual winners Wolfsburg. Surpassing that milestone could lead to fixture congestion for Arminia, who are also chasing a promotion playoff spot and competing in the Westfalen Cup final. “It would represent a monumental challenge, but one we would enthusiastically embrace,” stated club director Christoph Wortmann.
DFB Pokal Semi-Finals Preview
Leverkusen, having eliminated Bayern Munich in the previous round, are tipped to halt Arminia’s dream and are expected to face RB Leipzig (champions in 2022 and 2023) in the final. Leipzig’s semi-final opponents are mid-table Stuttgart, who are aiming to salvage a disappointing season with a remarkable cup run and their first Pokal title since 1997.
DFB Pokal Semi-Final Fixtures:
- Arminia Bielefeld v Leverkusen (1 Apr)
- Stuttgart v RB Leipzig (2 Apr)
Tirsense Aspires to Bring Taça de Portugal Home
Porto, the reigning Taça de Portugal champions, were unexpectedly ousted by Moreirense in the fourth round, ending a three-and-a-half-year winning streak in the competition. In the subsequent round, O Elvas caused a shock by defeating top-flight Vitória de Guimarães, earning a home tie against another fourth-tier team, Tirsense. O Elvas faltered as favorites, succumbing to a 2-0 home defeat as Tirsense became the lowest-ranked team to ever reach the cup semi-finals. Captain João Pedro maintained a balanced perspective on their historic achievement. “The exposure is beneficial for our young players, who have the potential to reach higher levels in the future,” he remarked before the quarter-final. “Our formula is based on hard work combined with favorable draws.”
Tirsense’s Daunting Semi-Final Challenge
Their favorable fortune may have run out, as they face a formidable two-legged semi-final battle against Benfica. Meanwhile, Sporting will face Rio Ave in the other semi-final. While a Lisbon derby final seems likely, Tirsense could draw inspiration from their former neighbors in Santo Tirso, north of Porto. In 2018, Desportivo das Aves unexpectedly reached their first Taça final and stunned Sporting to lift the trophy, before encountering financial difficulties. The club was dissolved in late 2020, and their trophy was auctioned online. Now, Tirsense has an unforeseen opportunity to bring the Taça back to the region.
Taça de Portugal Semi-Final Fixtures:
- Tirsense v Benfica (9 & 23 Apr)
- Sporting v Rio Ave (3 & 23 Apr)
Empoli Stuns with Penalty Shootout Shocks in Coppa Italia
Unlike the French format which favors lower-ranked teams, the Coppa Italia structure benefits Serie A’s elite, who enter later and enjoy home advantage. This often diminishes the potential for upsets. The last second-tier team to reach the final was Ancona in 1994, suffering a 6-1 aggregate defeat to Sampdoria. This year’s semi-finalists are again all from the top tier, but Empoli has disrupted the expected hierarchy through penalty shootouts, the great equalizer in cup competitions.
Empoli’s Historic Coppa Italia Run
Despite securing only four league victories this season, the Tuscan side has eliminated local rivals Fiorentina and Juventus via spot-kicks to reach the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in their history. “The players have etched their names into the history books of this club,” celebrated manager Roberto D’Aversa after the surprising triumph over Juve. “Frankly, I wasn’t anticipating this.” Empoli’s victory also contributed to the dismissal of Thiago Motta, who was sacked shortly after labeling the defeat “shameful”.
Coppa Italia Semi-Final Draw
Empoli’s next opponents will be Motta’s former club, Bologna, who last appeared in the cup final in 1974, defeating Palermo on penalties. Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna side remains unbeaten in the competition, having defeated Monza 4-0 in the last 16 before upsetting Atalanta. The semi-final draw has created an intriguing pairing of outsiders, with Empoli and Bologna facing each other, while Inter and Milan will contest the other semi-final in a city derby.
Coppa Italia Semi-Final Fixtures:
- Empoli v Bologna (1 & 24 Apr)
- Milan v Inter (2 & 23 Apr)
AZ and Go Ahead Eagles Set Up Surprise KNVB Cup Final
Historically, the Netherlands’ premier cup competition, the KNVB Cup, has been dominated by the “big three”—Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV—who have collectively won 45 titles. This season, AZ Alkmaar eliminated Ajax in the last 16, while PSV lost 2-0 to Feyenoord in the quarter-finals. The quarter-finals also featured two third-tier teams, Quick Boys and Noordwijk, who were defeated by AZ and Go Ahead Eagles respectively.
Go Ahead Eagles Reach First Final Since 1965
PSV were widely expected to overcome Go Ahead in the semi-finals, but a decisive combination of a header and a swift counterattack propelled Paul Simonis’ Go Ahead Eagles to their first cup final since 1965. Heracles Almelo, another club seeking their first cup title, missed a potential winning penalty in their semi-final shootout, enabling AZ to narrowly advance. Now, the teams currently occupying sixth and seventh positions in the Eredivisie will clash in Rotterdam for an unexpected final.
KNVB Cup Final Fixture:
- AZ v Go Ahead Eagles (21 Apr)