It’s not yet time to put away the crampons and put on the tap shoes. At a time when the end of the season has generally already been whistled, 21 clubs from Eure-et-Loir will play the first round of the Coupe de France, usually scheduled for the end of August, from the weekend of June 18 and 19! Blame it on the World Cup in Qatar, from November 21 to December 18, during which no rounds will be played*.
Coupe de France 2022-2023: discover the draw for the 1st round
The event was even to start a week earlier. But, faced with the drop in the number of entries, the Centre-Val de Loire league was able to delay the launch of this 2022-2023 Cup. In the region, 205 teams will participate against 244 last season. Eure-et-Loir is one of the good students. Among the D2, D3 and D4 only one less club than in the last edition is listed on the starting line. “We signed up last year, but there, in June, the season is over …”, slips Daniel Bichette, president of an ES Beauceronne (D2) who preferred to give up.
In June, the players are still there. It is much more difficult at the end of August. Some are on vacation, others have just returned…
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One could have imagined an avalanche of withdrawals, while the period is often devoted to youth and senior tournaments. But the early date of the kick-off of the Coupe de France, a novelty in the Center but not in certain big leagues like Paris-Île-de-France or Rhône-Alpes, where this has been the rule for many years, ultimately restrained few candidates.
Other reasons could be mentioned for a refusal “If we did not register this season, it is not because of the date, but because it had cost us financially and caused injuries”, explains Arnaud Jardin, co-president of the US Pontoise (D3). Sometimes, it is even the date of the 2nd round, August 28, more than that of the 1st round, which has been prohibitive. “In June, the players are still there. It is much more difficult at the end of August. Some are on vacation, others have barely returned… That’s why we didn’t sign up, ”says Michel Allard, president of AS Berchères-les-Pierres (D2).
“We did not ask ourselves the question”
And if starting so early did not always enthuse those concerned, we also accommodated ourselves. This is the case at CS Aunay-sous-Auneau of President Cyril Lutrat. “For us, it didn’t really suit us, our senior tournament was even canceled, but we registered anyway! »
premium Ymonville the smallest in the region, a Eurélien promoted to L1, already the Coupe de France, Chartres on vacation … The echoes of football in Eure-et-Loir
Sometimes, the event ultimately remains an unmissable event in a season. At Tréon, promoted to D2, who had reached the 4th round in September, we will not say the opposite. “We did not ask ourselves the question, admits coach Damien Cacérès. We just did what was necessary to get involved, telling ourselves that we would try to do the same course again, to get the jerseys. There are so many emotions to experience! »
* The 8th round is scheduled for November 20 and the 32nd round on January 8 while the 6th round, the last regional, will take place on October 16, against October 31 this season.
Franck Thébault
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