The trophy was named after Évence Coppée, the Belgian patron who organised the match to promote Franco-Belgian friendship.[2] Because the game ended in a tie, the trophy itself was not awarded.[1]
Historical context
The Évence Coppée Trophy marked the official debut of the French and Belgian national football teams[2][3] and was also the first match between two independent European countries. It was the third official international football game in continental Europe, after the games between Austria and Hungary,[4][5] and Hungary and Bohemia.[6] It was the third official game between the sides of two independent countries, after matches between Argentina and Uruguay in 1902 and 1903.[7]
Twenty days after the match, Belgium, France and five other European football associations founded the international association football federation, FIFA.[8]
Pre-match
Pre-match photograph in front of a goal. Left: the Belgian team; right: the French team; centre: the referee John C. Keene, with the match ball
Both teams were selected by their National Football Association (with Belgian chairman Édouard de Laveleye and French chairman Robert Guérin) rather than by a national manager.[9] Because of transportation difficulties and army enrollment, the French delegation was decimated.[10] Since 1 May was not yet considered an international holiday, the French players had to ask for a day off from their employees.[11] At least two French players (Louis Mesnier and Fernand Canelle) left their country without permission from their employers, and in French reports these two players were referred to using the respective pseudonyms "Didi" and "Fernand".[11][12]
The French tactics were described as follows. "France play in a classical 2-3-5 formation: two backs, the two half-wingers (G. Bilot and especially C. Bilot) are defensive and hold the opponent's wingers, Davy is half-center. Finally, there are the five forwards. The 'exteriors' Mesnier and Filez who make a break, the 'interiors' are Royet (who is relay runner) and Cyprès and the powerful center (Garnier), who is also the playmaker."[13]
Despite scoring twice in this match, the Belgian striker Georges Quéritet was not selected again for the national side.[16]
The Belgian goalkeeper Alfred Verdyck later became the secretary-general of the Belgian FA.[17]Robert Guérin, the deputy of the French Football Association, became the first president of FIFA twenty days after this match.
All Franco-Belgian encounters
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Belgium and France have sustained a long-lasting rivalry since this first fixture, with 78 official matches played over more than a century.[2][3]
The full record between the two countries is as follows:[18]
*Including two friendly matches at minor tournaments: the Évence Coppée Trophy in 1904 (3–3), and a 1–0 victory for France at the King Hassan II Tournament in 1998.
