Friday 20 June 2025
Two semi-finals decided by the slimmest of margins: one with unbearable suspense, the other controlled from start to finish by the standout player of this Polo Nations Cup, Argentina’s Matias Torres Zavaleta. Verdict: France vs. Argentina for the third edition’s final this Sunday. On the women’s side, the title is guaranteed to remain in French hands, with Normandy facing off against Hauts-de-France in an all-French final.
It wasn’t the heat that took our breath away on Friday at Chantilly’s main field no. 2, but the nerve-wracking script of the first semi-final between Occitanie and Paris. The two teams traded tit for tat all game long, as reflected in the score. Even though Occitanie led by two goals in the third chukker, neither side seemed fully in control. Santiago Marambio’s attacking power was somewhat neutralized by a disciplined Occitanie defense—clearly part of their game plan. And then came the flashes of brilliance from Simon Zavaleta, who twice stole the ball from his opponent and scored after fast solo runs from midfield.
The turning point may have come down to the youngest players: Martin Ferrari for Paris and Elouan Badarello for Occitanie, the latter proving more opportunistic and showing no signs of hesitation in the crucial moments.
With the score tied at 7-7 at the end of the last chukker, the game headed into overtime. That’s when Ramiro Zavaleta pulled off his genius, slicing through the defense and calmly slotting home the golden goal that booked a place in the final for the French team.
“For me, said the day’s hero, it was the best match we’ve played all season. Both teams played really well, and I think it was a great match to watch, very open, with just two goals scored on penalties. We managed to control their constant attacks, but it was tough – they’d already reached two finals this season and won one. In overtime, it was 50-50, but luckily Simon gave me a great backshot and I was off to goal. We won this tournament last year and we’ll go into the final with a very positive mindset.”
Matias Torres Zavaleta, the Argentine tactician
In the second semi-final, the all-French team France-PACA gave a strong performance against a formidable Argentina squad led by the ever-composed Matias Torres Zavaleta, a seasoned player used to high-stakes games during Argentina’s elite end-of-year season.
That stretch, known as the high season, sees the world’s best pros descend on Buenos Aires, culminating in the legendary Argentine Open. Zavaleta has already competed in that prestigious tournament, and it shows. “He plays with his brain,” one fellow Argentine whispered admiringly. He’s not out there to put on a show; he’s there to control, to manage the game. No rushing, no unnecessary runs, just efficiency. He conserves his ponies’ energy with the final in mind. Today, he was the game’s top scorer with five goals, making him the tournament’s second-highest scorer overall – a title he is guaranteed to clinch on Sunday, regardless of the result.
But for him, only victory counts, obvio.
Everything points toward a spectacular final this Sunday at 3:30 PM, featuring two teams with sharply contrasting styles.
Line-ups and score progressions
Occitanie-France : Isabelle Larenaudie (0), Elouan Badarello (2 / 3 goals), Simon Zavaleta (6 / 2 goals), Ramiro Zavaleta (4 / 3 goals incl. golden goal)
Paris-France : Françoise Okala (0), Martin Ferrari (2 / 2 goals), Gaston Beguerie (5 / 3 goals), Santiago Marambio (5 / 2 goals)
Occitanie-France : 2–1 / 3–1 / 5–3 / 6–5 / 7–7 / 8–7 (OT)
BPP (best playing pony of the semi-final 1): Pianista (8 year-old gelding) ridden by Ramiro Zavaleta and belonging to his breeder Tito Ruiz Guinazu
PACA-France : Tristan Vétois (0 / 2 goals), Julien Reynes (4 / 1 goal), Édouard Pan (4 / 2 goals), Louis Jarrige (4 / 2 goals)
Argentina: Bruno Bensoussan (0 / 1 goal), Tomas Oviedo (2 / 1 goal), Juan Cruz Araya (3 / 1 goal), Matias Torres Zavaleta (7 / 5 goals)
Argentina: 2–1 / 4–2 / 5–5 / 7–6 / 8–7
BPP (best playing pony of the semi-final 2): El Overo Z7 Luz Verde ridden by his owner Matias Torres Zavaleta and bred by Lucas Monteverde
An all French final
The Normandy (in grey) and Hauts-de-France teams, finalists in the first Ladies Polo Nations Cup. © Justine Jacquemot
The first Ladies Polo Nations Cup will guarantee a French victory: Hauts-de-France, who beat Denmark and Normandy, who beat Luxembourg, are the only two teams to have won their two qualifying matches. They will therefore meet in the final on Sunday at 1.30pm.
Programme
11.30am – Opening of the Village & Mini Nations Cup
1.30pm – Ladies Polo Nations Cup Final
3.15pm – Polo Nations Cup Parade
3.30pm – Polo Nations Cup Final
Photo Credit © Justine Jacquemot