For the first time since 2019, the trophy will be brandished in a sold-out Stade de France, free of Covid restrictions.

Nearly 80,000 spectators, half of them supporters of the Aiglons (19,800) and the Canaries (21,000), are expected in the Dionysian enclosure, but not its most regular guest, Paris SG.

The absence of the predator from the capital, who had not missed the final since 2014, paved the way for two suitors who come out of their den, hungry after a long hibernation.

Nantes, which has not won anything since its title of champion in 2001, will play its first final since that of the Coupe de la Ligue in 2004, lost on penalties against Sochaux (1-1 ap, 5-4 at tab).

Nice lost two years later against Nancy (2-1), in this competition that has now disappeared.

His last trophy dates back to the 1997 Coupe de France, won against Guingamp (1-1 ap, 4-3 on tab).

Nantes coach Antoine Kombouaré at a press conference on the eve of the Coupe de France final against Nice, May 6, 2022 at the Stade de France FRANCK FIFE AFP

nice favorite

The excitement around this meeting is up to the expectations of the supporters.

"We want to give them this happiness and this pride" of winning the trophy, assured Dante, captain of the Aiglons.

The "Gym" has nothing to do with the generation of Bruno Valencony and Frédéric Gioria titled 25 years ago.

The club changed skin in 2019, with the takeover (EUR 100 million) by the chemical giant Ineos of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The Brazilian defender of Nice, Dante, in a press conference on the eve of the Coupe de France final against Nantes, May 6, 2022 at the Stade de France FRANCK FIFE AFP

A trophy would validate the investments made by its owner who wants to make the Riviera training a regular in European competitions, even if the businessman's current offer to acquire Chelsea has cast doubt on his commitment lately.

"It is above all the story of a group of players. But I know, I get enough messages, that Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos would be proud to share this moment of happiness", explained coach Christophe Galtier.

Face of the Nice project, the technician, recruited last summer, has transformed the identity of the game by injecting it with the defensive DNA which has made it successful in Saint-Etienne and Lille.

Nantes in training at the Stade de France on the eve of their Coupe de France final against Nice, May 6, 2022 FRANCK FIFE AFP

PSG broke their teeth there in the round of 16 (0-0, 6-5 on tab).

The talent of its young attackers, embodied by Amine Gouiri, took over, against Marseille (4-1) and Versailles (N2, 2-0) in the following rounds.

For the final, "it will take an extra soul but that they (the players, editor's note) remain themselves, this is not the time to try to invent something", assured Galtier.

The quality of their workforce, still in contention to finish on the podium in the league, gives the people of Nice a head start against Nantes, whom they have beaten twice in the league (2-0 and 2-1).

"They are stronger than us. But it's not always the best team on the pitch that wins," said Canaris coach Antoine Kombouaré, who breathed new life into the club.

"Give your life"

The former Nantes player (1983-1990), recruited at the start of 2021 to avoid relegation, made people forget years of poor results and tensions between ultras and President Waldemar Kita.

On the contrary, the faultless course of its players brought back beautiful images to the club, three times titled in the competition, in particular in 2000, against the amateurs of Calais (2-1), one of the most emblematic finals of the French Cup.

Nantes goalkeeper Alban Lafont during the match against Montpellier, March 6, 2022 at the Beaujoire Loic VENANCE stadium AFP / Archives

Like Nice, Kombouaré relies on the youth of its executives, such as striker Randal Kolo Muani and goalkeeper Alban Lafont.

"We're calm. These matches, if tomorrow (Saturday) we don't have fun, I don't know when we're going to take advantage," slipped midfielder Ludovic Blas.

The Canaries, 9th in L1, can participate in their first European competition since 2004, if they win.

If the club record is old - Nice was titled in 1952, 1954 and 1997, Nantes in 1979, 1999 and 2000 - most players have not won a title.

The opportunity to dust off a souvenir album where the photos seem "vintage"...

ah-fcc-str-eba/jed/bde/lve

© 2022 AFP