Recent Incredible Runs in the French Cup 🔥 | OneFootball

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The famous little underdogs!

If PSG abruptly ended the journey of Stade Briochin (N2) on Wednesday night (7-0), the semi-finals still highlight the outsiders, with the presence of Reims (15th in L1), Dunkerque (L2) who overturned Brest, and especially Cannes (N2), the conqueror of Guingamp on Tuesday night.

With two lower-tier clubs (it's only the 5th time in the 21st century that only two L1 clubs are in the semi-finals), the possibility of finding a "little underdog" in the final of the Coupe de France is greater than ever. An opportunity, a few hours before the semi-final draw (this Thursday at 7:50 pm), to look back at five similar journeys to Cannes that have made an impression in recent years.

Versailles (4th division, 2021-2022)

The last N2 club to have reached the semi-finals, the club from Yvelines, which has been playing in the National since, had notably made a sensation by eliminating Toulouse (1-0) in the round of 16. But the Versaillais didn't stand a chance in the semi-final against Nice (2-0), ending their beautiful adventure.

Quevilly (4th division, 2009-2010)

Like Versailles in 2022, like Cannes this year, Régis Brouard's Quevilly (then in CFA) had made an impression in 2010 by reaching the semi-finals of the Cup. The Normans had claimed the scalp of a L2 (Angers) and two L1 (Rennes and Boulogne) before falling against pre-QSI PSG.

Montceau-Bourgogne (4th division, 2006-2007)

New CFA club, new epic journey. The Burgundians created two huge surprises, eliminating Bordeaux (2-2, 5-4 on penalties) and Lens (1-0), two L1 heavyweights, before falling in the semi-final against Sochaux (0-2). A journey that is impressive.

Calais (4th division, 1999-2000)

Undoubtedly the most striking underdog journey, the reference epic for all clubs that start to dream. The Northerners reached the final in 2000 sweeping everything in their path: LOSC (D2) from the round of 32, Cannes (D2) in the round of 16, Strasbourg (D1) in the quarterfinals and the Girondins (D1) in the semi-finals.

📸 Michael Steele

It was a close call for the dream to become reality, as Calais led in the final, before Nantes crucified them with a penalty in the 90th minute. Never has an underdog been so close to winning the trophy that all amateurs dream of.

Les Herbiers (3rd division, 2017-2018)

The last club from a tier lower than Ligue 1 to have reached the final of the Coupe de France. After eliminating Auxerre and Lens, the Vendéens had a favorable draw in the semi-final against Chambly (also a National resident at the time), before PSG asserted their dominance in the final (2-0).

Only two clubs not from Ligue 1 have managed to win the Coupe de France. It's hard to imagine a third joining them this season as PSG seems strong. But can Cannes continue its dream journey in your opinion?

📸 FREDERIC DIDES - AFP or licensors