The Cup. French football is such that doubles were hardly ever possible… so, true to tradition the Cup finalists were not those leading in the championship. Metz vs Sochaux. Mid-table First Division club vs leader of Second Division. Normally, top-league team wins… Unless… The final ended 1-1 with Metz actually trailing back and equalizing in the last minute of the first half. Equal game, coming to penalty shoot-out and in the chancy shooting Metz’ players did not miss, but Sachaux eventually missed one penalty. 5-4 Metz. Today it is even amusing – the shooters for Sochaux (Hadzibegic, Sauzee, Paille, Rousset, and Madar) are better known players than Metz’ kickers (Zenier, Hinschberger, Zanon, Bracconi, and Kastendeuch) – but that is from today point of view: Sauzee, Paille, Rousset and Madar eventually became leading players in the 1990s, they were not that in 1988. Anyhow, Metz clinched the victory in front of over 44 000 fans Parc des Princes, Paris.
One can be sorry for Sochaux-Montbeliard – they had wonderful season and only luck betrayed them, they did not really lose to Metz. Well, one is always sorry for the underdog. Standing from left: Gilles Rousset, Faruk Hadzibegic, Francis Peltier, Laurent Croci, Franck Sauzée, Mickaël Madar, Stéphane Paille.
Front row: Silvester Takac (coach), Fabrice Henry, Franck Silvestre, Jean-Christophe Thomas, Philippe Morin, Mehmed Bazdarevic, Jacky Colin.
Nice team really and no wonder they were so strong in the Second Division – this squad was more impressive than half of First Division teams! But misfortunate… at least they got promoted to First Division.
Great success for Metz, no matter how difficult and chancy – this was their 2nd Cup. One may be sorry for Sochaux on principle, but let face it – the final opposed two underdogs, clubs with little success and relatively marginal existence. Luck was on the side of Metz, having rather modest squad, so it was great for the boys to win a trophy. A moment to engrave in memory.
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