Le Classique

Tom and Bappo reflect on a group stage that has delivered 9 points, 10 goals, and two golden boot candidates for France. We reflect on their campaign to date, preview the Sweden game and attempt to find some kind of meaningful footballing connection between les Bleus and the Blågult. We settle on the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, which put French international football on the map and set a record by J...

It wasn’t all good news in Ligue 1 this year: dodgy fixture delays, shambolic owners, and the sad relegation of an iconic French club. Le Classique boys are back with friend of the Pod Jonathan Johnson for the second part of our Ligue 1 season review, focusing on the lowlights of the season. Awards for villain of the season, biggest disappointment, and the legendary ‘ballon de plomb’ are dished ou...

Friend of the pod Jonathan Johnson joins Tom and Bappo for the first part of our Ligue 1 Season Review. We discuss the top 7, RC Lens' incredible campaign, as well as the chaos that engulfed Marseille and Monaco. Individual awards are also dashed out and we also have a non-PSG (to keep things interesting..) team of the season. Les 'Sang et Or', naturally, feature heavily.

In light of the recent documentary 'Le Jeu avant le Je' by Theo Boyer, le Classique are joined by Jonathan Johnson to review the glory days of FC Nantes, and the mystery of their brilliant coach Raynald Denoueix. An undoubted Ligue 1 Legend.

After an international break where Les Bleus flexed their muscles, Tom and Bappo  return to Ligue 1 with a cracking run-in expected in the next seven games. Featuring a title race (still!), a European race , and France’s very own Tottenham Hotspur.

Before Thomas Tuchel's 35-man England squad, there was Aime Jacquet's 28-man France squad in the run up to 1998 ... A decision widely mocked at the time, and the nadir of a bitter dispute between journalistic institution l’Equipe and France's first world cup winning manager. Tom and Bappo reflect on a feud for the ages.

De Zerbi gone. Benatia gone (and then not gone). Longoria on the way out. Beye on the way in. Tom and Bappo reflect on mad couple of weeks at l'Olympique de Marseille and go back in time to when things were (believe it or not) even worse. The 1999 -2000 and 2000-2001 seasons when Marseille flirted with relegation and bankruptcy.

Tom and Bappo review the wheeling and dealing in Ligue 1 this January from major sales to the EPL and the Saudi Pro League, to incoming loans for some of the most exciting talent on the continent (Endrick!). Note: this episode was recorded just before OM’s humiliating 5-0 defeat to PSG, and De Zerbi’s subsequent departure. 

Ligue 1 resumes this weekend and it is 'les Sang-et-Or', not PSG, that top the table. Tom and Bappo review an exciting first half of the season, with a title race very much on, a tight relegation dogfight. Liam Rosenior might also be discussed...

This is part 2 of a draft of France's also-rans. The rules are simple: max 3 caps, born before the year 2000, and each squad must contain at least 3 totally uncapped players. In the first half of the draft, Bappo picked Bourigeaud, Pagis, Distin, Bonnissel, Monterrubio, and Rongier. Tom picked Ziani, Savidan, Malbranque, Mendy, and Cheyrou. You join us as Tom ponders his sixth pick.

With the World Cup a few months away, Tom and Bappo pick their best 'also-rans' who didn't quite make it to les Bleus. The rules of the draft are simple: max 3 caps, born before the year 2000, and each squad must contain at least three totally uncapped players. Episode features Mickael Pagis, Valerien Ismael, and the man who once gave Roberto Carlos the run-around. This is Part 1 of a...

Hey Bappo, what's the French for Va Va Voom? The Classique crew are joined by Matt Spiro from Across the Channel to discuss the best French player in EPL history: the incredible Thierry 'Titi' Henry. From a list that featured such icons as Gilles Grimandi, Olivier Bernard, and Christophe Dugarry, we conclude with a player that defined Arsenal and the EPL in the 2000s. Should he have wo...

Pedro Miguel Pauleta made an instant impact on his debut for Bordeaux and later became one of PSG's most beloved players. Brilliant goals, a gentleman, and a man for the big occasion (if you exclude Euro 2004). Tom and Bappo reflect on a true Ligue 1 Legend.

PSG might be at the top, but it's tight, with only 3 points separating the top six in Ligue 1. Tom and Bappo reflect on what feels like a positive start to the new season, with several feel good stories. Features discussion of the Ligue 1 + app, Pierre Sage's brilliant start at RC Lens, and Ilan Kebbal's outrageous tekkers.

Better late than never... After N'Golo Kante (5), Nicolas Anelka (4), and Patrick Vieria (3), Le Classique finalise their series on the best French players in Premier League history with 'le King' Cantona. Tom and Bappo reflect on his turbulent time in France before moves to Leeds and United, and contemplate the enormous cultural impact of this charismatic, unique, and brilliant trailb...

Ligue 1 is broke. But could that make things more interesting? Tom and Bappo preview the upcoming 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season. Expect reviews of transfer business, TV deals, and reflections on the high number of 'bounce-back' players plying their trade in France's top division this year.

In light of the overperformance of French clubs in the Champions' League, Tom and Bappo revisit the last time a French side produced a truly epic underdog campaign: AS Monaco's 03-04 European adventure. Featuring the mother fo all revenge performances' versus Real Madrid....

Le Classique is delighted to welcome Jonathan Johnson (JJ) as we resume our 'Tour de France' with the magical island of Corsica. We discuss Sporting Bastia, AC Ajaccio, and the legendary Claude Papi. And JJ suggests an intriguing direction of travel for the future of Corsican football... 

Tom and Bappo are faced with the difficult task of picking France's Best XI since their World Cup victory in 98.

A dark night in Kiev had left France on the brink of football ignominy. Until Mamadou Sakho stepped in as an unlikely saviour. Tom and Bappo revisit the game that truly kicked off the Didier Deschamps era.

Before QSI, PSG's owners were a group of American private equity investors whose early years were an omnishambles. Tom and Bappo travel back in time to when PSG were (very) bad. And came so close to relegation au Stade Auguste Bonal... Good old Colony Capital Years!

The King is Dead. Long Live Le President. Tom and Bappo review the 08-09 season that broke Lyon’s hegemony. And featured a certain Tyrone Mears...

Tom and Bappo pick their Ligue 1 team(s) of the decade for 2000 - 2010. The catch? It's a draft and they take it in turns to pick players. Who gets Juninho first??

Tom and Bappo revisit the game that shocked the World of football, brought El-Hadji Diouf to England, and gave us one of the iconic World Cup moments from much loved Papa Bouba Diop. It's France Senegal at the 2002 World Cup!

The Classique boys reflect on Guy Roux's crowning achievement: a double with AJ Auxerre in 1996. A season that also saw two French sides in European finals, with mixed results...