Before 2026, RC Lens reached the final of the Coupe de France three times in its history, in 1948, 1975 and 1998. The Sang et Or were very close to achieving a superb cup-championship double in 98. In the semi-finals of the cup, the Bollaert residents dominated OL (2-0) with a double from Stéphane Ziani ahead of Grégory Coupet. Untenable with the ball at his feet, Tony Vairelles was the decisive passer on the second goal.
A week before their title of French champion obtained in Auxerre (1-1), the Lensois lost in the final of the Coupe de France against PSG (2-1) in Saint-Denis. Rai with a header (24th) and Marco Simone with a heavy strike from the left (53rd) deceived Guillaume Warmuz, while Vladimir Smicer reignited the suspense 10 minutes from the end with an overflow from Vairelles.
A prodigy from AS Nancy-Lorraine recruited in 1995, the will-o-the-wisp Tony Vairelles made the difference for the Lensois during the second half of the season, until the coronation. His presence in the French team for the 1998 World Cup was then requested by many observers of the French championship. This was the case of the legend Raymond Kopa, the very first French Ballon d’Or!
Vairelles in the Panini album of Euro 2000
On May 5, 1998, one month before the 98 World Cup, Aimé Jacquet did not call up 22 players but 28 for the preparation of the tournament and despite that, Vairelles was absent. He obviously had a much better season than a certain Christophe Dugarry, author of a single goal at Barça and OM during the past financial year! On May 22, Lionel Letizi, Martin Djetou, Pierre Laigle, Sabri Lamouchi, Ibrahim Ba and Nicolas Anelka were asked to pack up. Tony Vairelles, will be called up three months later by Roger Lemerre, his former coach at RCL, honoring 8 selections without playing in Euro 2000 (despite his presence in the Panini album of the tournament).
In 2022, Vairelles spoke of this missed 1998 World Cup:
“We believe in it, obviously. I don’t live in nostalgia. I would have liked to be selected to participate. If it’s to be part of the group, not play a match and “win” the World Cup, it’s not the same. When you are a competitor, you want to contribute even to be a substitute, to come in, to score, to make you score. I don’t live in the past, that’s how it is. They are world champions, so much the better. »
