The Paris FC wins the 2015 edition of the Danone Nations Cup after a narrow victory against AS Saint-Etienne, 1 to 0. The young Parisians will fly to Morocco in October to represent France. Let’s look back at this beautiful day of football at the Allianz Riviera.
Despite the early schedule, the kids have to face difficult weather conditions. It’s barely 9 a.m., and the thermometer already reads 28 degrees.
On the field, the names resonate. Marseille, Saint-Etienne, Metz, Paris FC, and OGC Nice, all the major teams were present at the largest national sporting event for the category (U12).
The competition starts strong with this first clash between ASSE and OM. The match resembles a Ligue 1 fixture, yet it is indeed a Danone Nations Cup game. On the pitch, there’s no holding back. The two teams are fully committed, sometimes on the edge of sanctions. Amidst intense tackles, uncertain passes, and missed controls, the match seems destined for a dull 0 – 0. However, OM does not give up and seizes the lead at the very end to clinch the first victory of the day. The tournament is well and truly underway.
OGC Nice enters the competition
Directly qualified thanks to its host status, GYM did not disappoint during the competition. The results, however, were insufficient to reach the semi-finals, but the memories will remain forever etched in the mind of young Bilel. Of Moroccan origin, this young eagle grew up within the club to now face Marseille, his favorite team. A special and unique moment for this OM fan. “I’ve been playing at Nice since I was a kid, but I’ve always supported Marseille. It would be an immense pride to play in the international final in my country of origin. Whatever happens, I will still go to Morocco this summer (with a smile).”
Semi-finals: Marseille falls short
Almost all contenders for the final victory were present. The only notable absentee, OM, was eliminated on the last day of the group phase after its defeat against SC Air Bel 1 to 0.
Paris FC, ASSE, FC Metz, and Lusitanos Saint-Maur, compete for the two available tickets, which mean qualification for the grand finale.
No surprise between the favorite Paris FC and Lusitanos. The players from the capital easily win 3 to 0, thanks to an impressive technical mastery throughout the match. In the other match, the team from Saint-Etienne wins 1 to 0 following an unfortunate error by the young FC Metz goalkeeper and a poorly judged ball.
On to the final for Paris FC and AS Saint-Etienne.
Final: Paris FC, a cut above
The gap was too wide for the “greens.” Encouraged by a highly supportive crowd in the stands, they never managed to get a handle on the game. Dominant, the Parisian defense was impenetrable tonight, securing a short but precious 1 to 0 victory.
A sense of pride for the Paris FC coach, who highlights the work and commitment of these players throughout the season. “I hope we will represent France proudly in Morocco. I’m not pretentious, but with the qualification tournaments, the preparation, and the friendly matches we did, I would have been disappointed if we didn’t win the final.”
The Parisians follow in the footsteps of the Girondins de Bordeaux and will defend France’s colors in Marrakech on October 28th.
by Morgan Piot
