The last square of the "Old Lady", for its 106th edition, opens Wednesday (21:10) on a duel between FC Nantes of Antoine Kombouaré, still groggy of the slap inflicted by Reims (3-0) Sunday, and Olympique Lyonnais of his friend Laurent Blanc, fall of Paris SG (1-0) at the end of the weekend.

It is already a "small final of Coupe de France", according to the formula of Kombouaré, who hopes to see his Canaries prove their "ability to bounce back very quickly", moreover at the Beaujoire.

The Yellow and Green would like to take their loyal and restless supporters back to the Stade de France on April 29 for a second consecutive final after the one won in May against OGC Nice.

The performance would not be unprecedented in the history of the Nantes club. In 1999 and 2000, the team led by Mickaël Landreau reached the last step and achieved a double, with finals won against Sedan and Calais.

OL nevertheless appears to be a big obstacle for Nantes struggling in the league, only four points ahead of the relegation zone.

Lyon's Swedish striker (standing) Amin Sarr battles with Grenoble goalkeeper Esteban Salles during the quarter-final of the Coupe de France won 2-1 by OL at Groupama Stadium on February 28. © OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP

"Determination"

In Ligue 1, Lyon have regained the hair of the beast by winning at the Parc des Princes, Sunday against Mbappé and others, with a goal from the young Bradley Barcola, new international French hope aged 20.

"I don't know if it's an ideal preparation, tomorrow's score will tell us," Laurent Blanc told reporters on Tuesday. In any case, it will be necessary to "demonstrate the same things as in Paris (...) at the level of mindset and determination," he said.

Winning the Coupe de France would bring back good memories for the former defender and coach of Les Bleus, crowned both as a player (in 1990 with Montpellier, in 1996 with Auxerre) and as a coach (in 2015 and 2016 with PSG).

Above all, it would allow OL to compete in the Europa League, as in 2021/2022 (elimination in the quarter-finals), after a year without European competition. A qualification via the championship, where Lyon is in ninth place, seems unlikely.

Playing on the continental stage is also a dream that drives the two "outsiders" of the Coupe de France, Annecy and Toulouse, whose presence in the semi-finals is already a surprise in itself.

The Toulousains, thirteenth in Ligue 1, obviously start as favorites of the duel scheduled for Thursday (20:45) at the Parc des Sports d'Annecy, against Haut-Savoyards very concerned about their maintenance in Ligue 2.

Annecy players celebrate their qualification on penalties in Marseille in the quarter-finals (2-2, 7 tab to 6), at the Stade Vélodrome on March 1, 2023. © Nicolas TUCAT / AFP

FC Annecy, entangled in a black series in the league (four defeats and a draw in five games), still proved that it could hit hard at times, as in the quarters against Olympique de Marseille (2-2, 7-6 t.a.b.).

Since the first edition in 1917/1918, only two clubs playing in the second division have won the Coupe de France: Le Havre, in 1959, and Guingamp, in 2009.

Programme of the France Cup semi-finals:

Wednesday:

(21h10) Nantes - Lyon

Thursday:

(20h45) Annecy (L2) - Toulouse

© 2023 AFP