The French Football Show

Lens are back! Intensity, attacking verve and a rocking Bollaert: Yannick Cahuzac’s first home game in charge brought an impressive 2–1 win over Lyon, ending the visitors’ unbeaten run. Matt Spiro is joined by French football expert Luke Entwistle to discuss why Lens looked like last season’s side again – and what this performance means for their prospects. We also review PSG’s 3–1 victory over Le...

PSG and Manchester City have both been transformed by Gulf investment – but how different are their stories? Ahead of their Champions League meeting, Matt Spiro and Tom Williams welcome journalist Miguel Delaney, author of States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football, for a lively discussion about ownership, money and success. Against the backdrop of City’s financial case, we examine PSG’s...

New faces, a more technical midfield and Kylian Mbappé on the left: what do Zinedine Zidane’s first decisions tell us about the France team he wants to build? Matt Spiro is joined by French journalist Karim Baldé and the commentator Andy Scott for a deep dive on Les Bleus, drawing on their knowledge of French football to assess the changes and look beyond the excitement surrounding Zidane. We disc...

Are Paris FC already becoming a force in French football? Nearly two years into the Arnault family and Red Bull project, Paris FC are starting to look increasingly formidable in Ligue 1. Matt Spiro is joined by Tom Williams and Jonathan Johnson to examine the rapid transformation of PFC: their ambitious recruitment, the arrival of sporting director Marco Neppe, Red Bull’s influence, investment in...

Marseille’s nightmare start continues. Matt Spiro and George Boxall report from the Stade Vélodrome after PSG’s 2-1 victory condemned OM to a fifth consecutive defeat. Marseille are now second-bottom of Ligue 1, while PSG have climbed to sixth after back-to-back wins - although the champions are still some way from their best. Matt is then joined by Jonathan Johnson to discuss the rest of Round 5,...

RC Lens have sacked Dino Toppmöller after just six competitive matches - and nobody saw it coming. Despite beating PSG in the Trophée des Champions, thrashing Auxerre 5-2 in their first Ligue 1 game, and winning their opening Champions League match, Toppmöller’s reign ended amid reports of tactical concerns, dressing-room doubts and disagreements over the structure of his coaching staff. Matt Spir...

Who is best equipped to challenge PSG this season: Lille, Rennes or Monaco? Matt Spiro is joined by Jonathan Johnson and Andy Scott to assess Ligue 1’s early leading trio after another compelling weekend of French football. Rennes earn a statement 1-0 victory over Marseille, Monaco are held by Strasbourg, and Lille continue their impressive start with a 2-0 win over Troyes. We also discuss PSG’s f...

Who exactly is Pierre Sage – and what are Crystal Palace getting with their new French coach? Pierre Sage’s rise has been extraordinary. After spending years working in youth and amateur football, he was handed the Lyon job with the club bottom of Ligue 1 – and inspired one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent French football. He followed that with a superb season at Lens, finishing second...

Monaco are seven points clear of PSG after just seven games! Matt Spiro is at the Parc des Princes to give us his thoughts on the latest victory for Filipe Luis' table-topping team. Matt is then joined by French football expert Jonathan Johnson to analyse PSG's slow start to the season: should Luis Enrique have signed a new goalkeeper and is their attack better or worse this season? There's plenty...

Ligue 1 clubs have generated more than €1.3 billion in player sales this summer – with cash-rich Premier League sides contributing over €800 million of that total. Matt Spiro is joined by Andy Scott and Tom Williams to analyse the biggest moves from Ligue 1 to England, identify the smartest signings for Premier League clubs and assess what this extraordinary transfer window means for French footba...

Matt Spiro reports from the Stade Louis II after Monaco’s superb 2-0 victory over Marseille sent them to the top of Ligue 1. Young German striker Paris Brunner was the star of the show, scoring twice - including one stunning effort - in an outstanding performance. Andy Scott joins Matt to review the rest of the weekend’s action, including dramatic scenes in Lille, where PSG scored twice in added t...

How did one of France’s biggest and most historic football clubs fall from Ligue 1 to the sixth tier? Six-time French champions Girondins de Bordeaux have endured a spectacular sporting and financial collapse. After relegation from Ligue 1, the loss of their professional status and two seasons in National 2, Bordeaux have now been excluded from France’s national championships - with their very sur...

The French Football Show is back! Matt Spiro will be hosting two podcasts a week this week - the first, every Monday, is a Ligue 1 based discussion following the weekend's action. The second, every Thursday, will be a deeper dive in the biggest issues in the French game. Make sure you subscribe to avoid missing out on any of this gloriously fun and informative FREE content! First up, there's alrea...

France are through to the World Cup semi-finals for a third consecutive time, and it feels like Didier Deschamps' side still haven't really been tested. Spain will be looking to change that on Tuesday night, but Matt Spiro, Baptiste Reynaud and Jonathan Johnson are finding it hard to look beyond Les Bleus for the overall title. The lads dissect the quarter-final win over Morocco, wonder how many m...

France head into the knockout stages in ominous form after brushing aside Norway 4-1, with Ousmane Dembélé once again stealing the headlines. Matt Spiro, Jonathan Johnson and Baptiste Reynaud analyse another impressive Les Bleus performance, discuss what's making Didier Deschamps' side so formidable, and assess whether anyone can stop them. The guys also look ahead to Tuesday's Round of 32 clash w...

France defeated Iraq 3-0 thanks to two more Kylian Mbappé goals, but it was a long night in Philadelphia as storms delayed the game by more than two hours. Matt Spiro catches up with Andy Scott, who was in the stadium, and then breaks down another good victory for Les Bleus with the French football expert Jonathan Johnson. You can also watch the FFS on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFo...

France have started their World Cup campaign in style – but are we witnessing the start of a new era for Les Bleus? Matt Spiro is joined by French football expert Jonathan Johnson to analyse France's impressive 3-1 win over Senegal. The pair discuss Kylian Mbappé's historic night as he became France's all-time leading scorer with a brilliant brace, Michael Olisé's outstanding display, and whether...

The FFS is back with a big preview of France's first game of the 2022 FIFA Worls Cup, against Senegal. Matt Spiro talks to the former Senegal international Ricardo Faty, who was born and raised and France and admits he is going to have mixed feelings on Tuesday! On 31 May 2002, Senegal sent shockwaves around the planet by defeating France in the opening game of the World Cup. On Tuesday, the Teran...

What a season it's been! To wrap things up, French football expert Matt Spiro tells us about his experience at Stade de France where he saw Lens win the Coupe de France for the first time in their history. A magical season for Pierre Sage's team and the scenes both n Saint-Dénis and then later in Lens were testimony both to what a fantastic club Lens are and also just how special the Coupe de Fran...

The Ligue 1 season ended in typically manic fashion on Sunday: there were upsets aplenty, pitch invasions, resignations and even a nine-goal thriller. Matt, Andy and Tom reflect on a hugely entertaining year in France and select some of their best and worst moments. Watch the French Football Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

So, Ousmane Dembélé scooped the official Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award this week, but did the PSG star actually deserve it having only started nine league games? Matt, Andy and Tom meet up in ‘Le Corner Café’, in Paris’ 2nd Arrondissment to make their choices! They all also select the best young player and the best coach, as Matt tucks into a rather large serving of pavlova. We hear about the...

For years PSG tried and failed to win the Champions League. Their failures would often be spectacular. The club seemed to be cursed. Then Luis Enrique arrived. The brilliant Spanish manager has found the formula and transformed the destiny of Paris Saint-Germain. Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, Matt, Tom and Andy examine the impact of the former S...

After Marseille's slump continued at home to Nice, Habib Beye's side look sure to miss out on the Champions League. Matt, Andy and Tom delve into a chaotic season in Marseille and look at what needs to happen to get this great club competing again at the summit of the French game. There's a focus on Strasbourg's stylish winger Diego Moreira, who is set to feature for Belgium at this summer's World...

An eventful season at Strasbourg could now finish in glorious fashion. With the Alsace club through to the semi-finals of both the Europa Conference League and the Coupe de France, Matt, Tom and Andy wonder if Gary O'Neil's charges can make French football history in the next weeks? Rayo Vallecano and OGC Nice stand in their way of reaching two showpiece games. There's plenty to discuss in Ligue 1...

This week's episode is all about the famous 'Entente Cordiale'! With more English footballers thriving in France than ever before, Matt and Tom take at look at the reasons why there has been a sudden influx and ask if it is a good thing both for the English and French games. There's an exclusive chat with Lyon's midfield maestro Tyler Morton who has been exceptional since joining from Liverpool an...