Nîmes ready to take final step

By Chris Burke

Having already claimed four Ligue 1 scalps this season, third-division Nîmes Olympique play AJ Auxerre tonight for a place in the French Cup final, before AS Monaco FC and CS Sedan-Ardennes meet in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

Record exploits
After defeating AS Saint-Etienne, AJ Ajaccio, OGC Nice and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, no lower-league team in France has ever eliminated as many top-flight clubs as Nîmes have en route to the last four but, paradoxically, their form in the National Division has failed to match up. They recently fell out of the race for promotion to Ligue 2 and their captain Jean-Marie Pasqualetti insists that will drive them on in the cup. "There's no question of us letting our heads drop, we're not going to finish the season with a failure," he said.

Auxerre favourites
Tonight's game revives memories of the 1996 final between the sides which Auxerre won 2-1. The Burgundy club start as favourites again, not least because they have home advantage. Nîmes have not faced an élite team away from their Stade des Costières stronghold and the 'Crocodiles' will have to prove they have the same bite on their travels. Auxerre coach Guy Roux denies it will be an issue, however: "Playing at home won't be an advantage. I've never seen a spectator score a goal."

Fitness boosts
Auxerre are without the injured Yann Lachuer, but can count on Benjani Mwaruwari, Bonaventure Kalou, Teemu Tainio and Kanga Akalé as they aim to secure their fourth final appearance in eleven years. And lying two points and two places outside the UEFA Cup berth available in Ligue 1, they will be desperate to set up an alternative path into Europe.

Trophy dreams
Monaco, in third, are on course for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, but the prospect of silverware is a real incentive. "I dream about this trophy and winning it would prevent us finishing another season empty-handed," said left-back Patrice Evra.

Sedan confident
The four-time winners are at home, but Sedan president Serge Marchetti claims not to be concerned: "We'd have liked it to be the other way round, but Sedan can still do it." Indeed, the Ligue 2 side have been to the final more recently than their opponents, and would relish the chance to go one better than their narrow loss to FC Nantes Atlantique in 1999.