Montanier assessed he would have preferred to play on Wednesday, as fellow finalists Nantes will do so against Brest for a six-pointer in the relegation fight. The Toulouse head coach also implied that Lens were favored by the scheduling. The Artois side haven’t played for ten days now and will face a team whose season has already been crowned with success, and are already assured of a midtable finish in the league. “Monaco and Marseille ought to be furious“, Montanier said, speaking on the behalf of Lens’ rivals in the fight for Champions League places. Their opponents tonight can got back up to within one point of Marseille and six off PSG with a win.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Every year, France’s cup winners are handed an automatic place in the Europa League, if they are not already qualified for continental competition via their league placing – Nantes, this year, went all the way to the knockout stages before losing to Juventus.

But Les Violets’ spot in Europe next year will now depend on how the Serie A season plays out. Toulouse have the same majority stakeholder as Milan, American investment fund RedBird Capital, and UEFA do not allow two teams that share an owner to take part in the same continental competition. This also applies to different competitions, given that the Rossoneri could drop down from the Champions League group stage into the Europa League knockouts midway through the season. 

L’Équipe have contacted Toulouse on the subject, to no avail. The outlet also points out that RedBird will have to carry out structural changes in the ownership of one of the two clubs – as Red Bull did in 2017 for both Leipzig and Salzburg to play in Europe – within a very short timeframe for their teams to proceed in the competitions. Milan would have the priority over Toulouse in all criteria used by UEFA – league ranking, country coeffiecient, and the more prestigious competition, if they qualify for the Champions League. Toulouse would only have the advantage if the Serie A side drop down to the Conference League. In any other case, their spot would be handed over to Ligue 1’s 5th-place finishers.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

The newcomers wasted no time in getting off the mark, as Logan Costa headed in the opener after just three minutes for his first ever goal as a professional. The 22-year-old would not have to wait much longer for his second, as he headed in another from close range to double his side’s lead within the first ten minutes.

The next two Toulouse goals would see Montanier’s men carve up Les Canaris on the counter with spectacular ease – both times, in-form striker Thijs Dallinga was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

With Nantes down and out, the pace in the second half would decidedly die down – although the fervour from the Nantes supporters remained sky-high. Ludovic Blas – who scored the winner in last year’s final – would grab a consolation goal from the spot with fifteen minutes to go, but it wasn’t enough to revive his team’s hopes. Not least given Zakarian Aboukhlal would restore the four-goal three minutes later with a thunderous strike from range. Toulouse’s ambitious project – which first took them back to Ligue 1, and then to mid-table safety – reaps its just rewards, and Les Violets earn their first Coupe de France win since 1957.

Nantes player ratings

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

However, the FFF did not get its way with the police prefect, who fought to keep the tifo, believing that banning it would only exacerbate tensions among Nantes supporters. The prefect is said to believe that the FFF’s position on the matter is too severe.

It’s possible that the FFF’s concerns stem from an incident in August 2022, when a Toulouse supporter altered the “On est Nantes putain” slogan to “Vous êtes des putains Nantes” (You are whores, Nantes) during a match between the two sides at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

As for the installation of spiked fences criticised by Liverpool fans, they were reportedly mainly aimed at preventing FC Nantes supporters from invading the pitch, but it was decided to install them on the Toulouse side as well. The prefect has expressed concerns over the possibility of a pitch invasion.

GFFN | George Boxall

Antoine Kombouaré’s Nantes will have the chance to retain their title and get some brief respite from their relegation battle, while Toulouse can secure the crowning achievement of an impressive post-promotion campaign.

For Les Canaris, all eyes will be on captain and attacking midfielder Ludovic Blas, who scored the winner in last season’s final against Nice and was again decisive in this year’s semi-final, with a top-corner strike to send his team to Paris. The regular fixtures of the team – goalkeeper Alban Lafont, midfielder Moussa Sissoko – are expected to start, while Mostafa Mohamed will likely start over Andy Delort up front. The only uncertainty, according to L’Équipe, is over the left-wing position, with Ignatius Ganago, Moses Simon, and Florent Mollet all in contention.

Toulouse captain Brecht Dejaegerre is set to return to the starting eleven following a concussion lay-off, returning to his usual position alongside Dutch midfield pair Branco van den Boomen and Stijn Spierings. Their in-form compatriot Thijs Dallinga starts up front, flanked by Zakaria Aboukhlal, who scored in the semi-final against Annecy.

Nantes predicted XI v Toulouse:

Alban Lafont – Fabien Centonze, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nicolas Pallois, Quentin Merlin – Moussa Sissoko, Andrei Girotto, Samuel Moutoussamy – Ludovic Blas, Mustafa Mohamed, Ignatius Ganago.

Toulouse predicted XI v Nantes:

Kjetil Haug – Mikkel Desler, Anthony Rouault, Logan Costa, Gabriel Suazo – Brecht Dejaegere, Sitjn Spierings, Branco van den Boomen – Zakaria Aboukhlal, Thijs Dallinga, Ratão.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Liverpool’s Association of Disabled Supporters expressed shock at the move, stating that the installation of fences in a football stadium is a “horror”, and the responsible authorities seem to have learned nothing from past tragedies. They demanded that the fences be removed.

Donc il y a des grilles avec des PIQUES. On est au moyen âge la? C’est absolument scandaleux et irresponsable pic.twitter.com/sA9YmWZ1eS

— Paul Cometto (@PaulCometto) April 28, 2023

The Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 people died, was caused by a stampede that crushed victims against the fences in the stands. The association accused the French authorities of “regressing” in terms of safety and security and “treating people like animals”.

A British journalist and Liverpool supporter, Daniel Austin, also criticised the move, telling RMC Sport that “France has regressed in terms of safety and security”, and sports fans were not safe in the country. He argued that France should not host any major international sporting event “until significant changes are made to security and law enforcement.”

Football Supporters Europe joined the criticism, highlighting the dangers of such measures in the light of past tragedies. The French National Association of Supporters also expressed anger at the move.

Nous venons de saisir le tribunal administratif d'une requête de référé-liberté. pic.twitter.com/D1YBw3tSEw

— Asso.Nat.Supporters (@A_N_Supporters) April 28, 2023

The fences have been erected for a Coupe de France final which is embroiled in political contestation against the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, after the 45-year-old’s government pushed through retirement age reforms, which has seen mass civil disruption across the country.

There were plans in place to disrupt final itself, through planned power outages as well as a ‘red card to Macron’ protest during the match which has been subsequently banned by Paris’ police authorities.

GFFN | George Boxall

However, it may not be that straightforward for Toulouse. The Garonne side is owned by RedBird Capital Partners, the American private investment firm who own a majority share in Champions League semi-finalists AC Milan.

UEFA rules and regulations are clear when it comes to multi-club ownership and European competitions: Two clubs owned by the same entity cannot be guaranteed an entry, even if they are not playing the same competition. If AC Milan qualify for next season’s Champions League, they may finish third in their group and potentially play Toulouse in the Europa League knock-out stage.

For the matter to be resolved, RedBird would need to withdraw from one of the clubs so that both can compete on the continental stage. In 2017, Red Bull had to make adjustments in order to field both RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg in the Champions League. If RedBird does not make similar changes, UEFA will choose Milan over Toulouse according to sporting criteria. 4th-placed Milan are indeed far better placed in Serie A than Toulouse are in Ligue 1 (12th).

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Trade unions are planning to hand out red cards to fans of Nantes and Toulouse before the match, so as to have them brandished at the president when he takes to the field for the traditional pre-match greeting of the two sets of players.

Organisers have also made contingency plans should the event be hit with a targeted power strike, a tactic increasingly used in the country in the past few weeks. As well as the red cards, trade unions are also hoping to hand out whistles, to be used on the 49th minute – a reference to the government’s use of article 49.3 of the French constitution, through which, when triggered, opposition can only prevent a bill from going through via a vote of no confidence.

According to Le Parisien, via AFP, Macron will be at the match, but will not go down to the pitch. There is no indication for the time being as to whether he will present the trophy to the winning captain, as he has done since the start of his mandate in 2017.

3000 police officers – 50% more than at the Champions League final last year – will be deployed, while Le Parisien add that barriers will be placed in front of certain stands in order to avoid a pitch invasion.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Kolo Muani won the title with the Breton club last season. Now without their star attacker, the club are now looking to make it back-to-back domestic cup trophies. Last season, they beat Christophe Galtier’s OGC Nice in the final; this season they face recently-promoted FC Toulouse. 

Nantes’ domestic form has been worrying and it leaves them teetering just above the four-team relegation zone. However, the Coupe de France has been a welcome distraction, and in the stands of the Stade de France on Saturday, a familiar face could watch them lift the trophy again. 

Since joining Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer, Kolo Muani has thrived, scoring 20 goals and registering 14 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions. His form has seen him linked with a big-money move, potentially back to Ligue 1 to play for champions-elect Paris Saint-Germain, according to RMC Sport.

But he intends to be cheering on their domestic rivals this weekend. “I watch all of their (Nantes’) matches, apart from when we’re playing at the same time. I’m sorting things out currently to be present at the Stade de France. I can’t miss this match. [The title] belongs to us and is up to us to defend it. They have my full support,” said Kolo Muani

https://twitter.com/primevideosport/status/1648278423503241217

However, Borghini revealed on Wednesday that the IFAB had denied the French FA’s attempts to implement this game-changing policy for next season. “The French FA has taken all the steps at its disposal to set up microphones for referees as desired by the clubs, the referees, the LFP and the French FA’s Executive Committee. The IFAB responded with a clear no”, Borghini said. The French FA executive committee member shared his disappointment, but he said that France wouldn’t give up on lobbying in favour of the measure. Nevertheless, French official Millot will be miked up for the upcoming Coupe de France final between Nantes and Toulouse on Saturday, but his communication with players and linesmen alike won’t be broadcast live.

Borghini adds that the IFAB also refused the French FA’s request to experiment with explaining VAR decisions to the public, a change that FIFA have already tried during the Club World Cup in February and will test again, during the U20 World Cup (May 20-June 11).

GFFN | Bastien Cheval