Coupe de France: Five major upsets

JS Saint-Pierroise, a club from Réunion, an island off Madagascar, wrote their name in history by traveling 6,000 miles to face Ligue 2 team Chamois Niortais FC. Against all odds, they earned a 2-1 victory, advancing to the round of 32, a feat defying geographical barriers and expectations.

In the 1999-2000 Coupe de France, RUFC Calais stunned reigning Ligue 1 champions, FC Girondins Bordeaux in the semifinals. Despite ultimately falling short in the final against Nantes, their remarkable tournament was marked with a couple of big upsets, with the team from the National 2 having one of the most historic runs in Coupe de France history.

Clermont Foot's upset over Paris Saint-Germain in the 1996-97 round of 16 remains ingrained in memory. PSG, coming off a strong Ligue 1 season, seemed destined for victory against the French fourth-tier team. However, a miraculous comeback by Clermont, including three late goals, forced the game to penalties. Goalkeeper Olivier Enjolras was the hero, saving two penalties in the shootout to seal their victory.

The 2007-08 edition witnessed another extraordinary upset when fifth-tier club USJA Carquefou stunned Olympique Marseille in an encounter that ended 1-0 courtesy of Idrissa N'Doye's goal, sending Carquefou into the quarterfinals.

Olympique Marseille found themselves on the wrong side of history again in the 2014-15 Coupe de France. Despite their strong position atop Ligue 1 under Marcelo Bielsa's coaching, they fell to fourth-tier Grenoble Foot 38 in a memorable match that ended in a penalty shootout.

These upsets in the Coupe de France bear witness to the magic and unpredictability of the historic cup, where an underdog’s determination and spirit can overcome the odds, creating moments that will forever be remembered.