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How did a French magazine’s award become football’s golden obsession? Matt Spiro joins writer and broadcaster Tom Williams and commentator Andy Scott in a Parisian café in the 15th arrondissement for a special, in-person edition of Le Dossier. We explore the Ballon d’Or’s origins at France Football, how the award has evolved and whether its voting system really identifies the most deserving player. Why does it carry such weight in France? How much influence do media campaigns have? And has an individual prize become too big a deal in a team sport? Plus, we finish with our picks for who deserves this year’s award – and who we think will win. ☕ French football conversation, from the heart of Paris. Subscribe to The French Football Show for our weekly Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier discussions. #BallonDor #FrenchFootball #FranceFootball

Eight changes, three points – but was PSG’s win at Strasbourg really evidence that Ligue 1 is too easy? Matt Spiro is joined by French football expert Jonathan Johnson and Baptiste Reynaud from Le Classique Pod to unpack a revealing weekend in France. PSG won 3–1, but only after Strasbourg gave them a serious scare. Safonov’s crucial saves and the introduction of Dembélé, Doué, Hakimi, Mendes and Vitinha helped turn the match around. We discuss Luis Enrique’s rotation, the demands of competing at home and in Europe, and what the “weak Ligue 1” argument misses. Meanwhile, Paris FC delivered a thrilling 4–3 victory over Rennes, inspired by the outstanding Lassine Sinayoko. Two goals and two assists: we celebrate his remarkable performance and excellent season. Plus, Lyon’s 2–1 win over Nice took them top – with FIVE teams level on 14 points – and Marseille hit five at Angers. Subscribe to The French Football Show for our weekly Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier discussions. #Ligue1 #PSG #ParisFC #FrenchFootball

Just 12 months ago, Marseille were flying high and dreaming of a title under Roberto De Zerbi. Today, they have a threadbare squad and are bracing themselves for a relegation dogfight. How did they get here and what does the next months have in store? Matt Spiro is joined by Andy Scott and Tom Williams to examine OM’s dramatic downturn: the financial constraints and boardroom overhaul that have left the club facing an uncertain future. Could OM actually go down? Is Bruno Genesio the right man to start the rebuild? Do they have the players needed to compete? In this week’s Le Dossier, we explore what went wrong at one of France’s biggest clubs — and what comes next. Subscribe to The French Football Show for our weekly Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier. #Marseille #OM #Ligue1

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 Mans, with Andy Scott reporting from the Parc des Princes, and Monaco’s 2–2 draw with Toulouse, featuring a report from commentator Simon Hill in Monaco. Subscribe to The French Football Show for our weekly Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier episodes, covering the stories that matter in French football. #Ligue1 #RCLens #FrenchFootball

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 rise, their global brand and their record under financial regulation. Is it fair to put the two clubs in the same bracket? And what does the wider debate mean for supporters? Different perspectives and plenty of debate in this edition of Le Dossier from The French Football Show. Subscribe for our weekly Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier episodes. #PSG #ManCity #FrenchFootball

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 discuss: • His selection decisions, including Da Cunha, Diouf and Lepaul • The search for a more technical, fluid midfield • Cherki's deeper role, Mbappé’s move to the left wing • Whether the early signs are encouraging • How good actually is Zidane as a manager Watch 'The French Football Show' on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 infrastructure - and whether the club can build the fanbase and identity to match its ambitions. Plus, a closer look at Liam Rosenior: his impact on the pitch and the controversy surrounding his celebrations in front of the Strasbourg supporters last weekend. 🇫🇷 The French Football Show — Le Dossier Subscribe for twice-weekly discussion and analysis of Ligue 1 and French football. You can also watch the FFS on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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, including: ⚽ Lyon’s superb 4-0 victory over Rennes 🔥 Liam Rosenior goading the Strasbourg supporters after Paris FC’s impressive 2-1 win 🤔 Was Rosenior wrong to react - or was it understandable after the abuse he received? 🔝 Monaco beating Lens to move clear at the top of Ligue 1 🏆 Are Monaco genuine title contenders? Plus, Andy Scott reports from the Stade Louis II after Monaco’s latest victory. Subscribe to The French Football Show for two weekly podcasts covering Ligue 1 and French football. #Ligue1 #Marseille #PSG

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 Spiro is joined by French football experts Tom Williams and Andy Scott to examine: • What went wrong behind the scenes • The conflicting French and German accounts • Whether Lens were right to act so quickly • What the decision says about the club’s leadership • Whether Yannick Cahuzac could be the long-term answer Subscribe to The French Football Show for two episodes every week: Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier. #RCLens #Ligue1 #FrenchFootball Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 first victory of the season in Brest – and the deeply emotional scenes as Stade Brestois, and indeed all of French football, paid tribute to the late Eric Roy. Matches discussed: Rennes 1-0 MarseilleStrasbourg 1-1 MonacoLille 2-0 TroyesBrest 0-1 PSG Subscribe to The French Football Show for two episodes every week, covering all the biggest stories from Ligue 1 and French football. https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 in Ligue 1 and winning the Coupe de France. Now, Sage has crossed the Channel to take on his biggest challenge yet at Crystal Palace. Matt Spiro is joined by French football expert Tom Williams and leading Crystal Palace voice Dan Cook (HLTCO) to discuss: • Who Pierre Sage really is – as a coach and a person • How he transformed Lyon • Why his football worked so well at Lens • His tactics, man-management and relationship with players • Why Crystal Palace chose him • His early tactical decisions at Palace • The Ismaïla Sarr situation and Palace’s transfer window • Whether Sage and Palace are a natural fit • And the big question: can Sage become a major success in the Premier League? 🇫🇷 Le Dossier is the FFS deep dive into the biggest stories and personalities in French football. Subscribe to The French Football Show for two episodes every week: Ligue 1 Review on Mondays and Le Dossier on Thursdays.

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 of love for Strasbourg who hit Troyes for SIX, and Andy Scott reports from the Vélodrome after commentating Marseille 2-3 Paris FC. How deep are Marseille's problems and how high can the capital club finish after a very promising summer transfer window? The FFS is also available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 football. What happened on Malick Fofana's mad day? Is Bradley Barcola worth the money? Might Ayyoub Bouaddi be a generational talent? And how did Brentford clinch the signing of the excellent Mamadou Sangaré? Is the influx of money providing a much-needed financial reset for Ligue 1, or will the continued departure of its best young players ultimately leave the league weaker?

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 time to rescue a 2-2 draw. Lille were left furious after the equaliser arrived in the fifth additional minute - despite only three having been indicated. Plus, commentator Simon Hill checks in from the Groupama Stadium to give the latest at the end of a difficult week for Lyon.

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 survival under threat. Matt Spiro is joined by French football journalist Tom Williams and lifelong Bordeaux supporter and journalist Raphael Jucobin to examine: 🔹 Where the crisis began 🔹 The ownership of GACP / King Street and Gérard Lopez 🔹 The financial gamble that went disastrously wrong 🔹 Bordeaux’s relegations and loss of professional status 🔹 The arrival of Sparta Capital 🔹 Whether the club can survive and rebuild 🔹 What French football must learn from the collapse Welcome to Le Dossier, our weekly deep dive into the biggest stories in French football. Subscribe to The French Football Show for two episodes every week: our Ligue 1 Review and Le Dossier. #Girondins #Bordeaux #FrenchFootball You can also watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow