Le Classique

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...

With Aulas departing l'OL as President, Tom and Bappo reflect on the career of - arguably - the greatest president in French Football history.

Le Classique is joined by friend of the pod (and Crystal Palace fan) Chaka as we discuss Arsenal's legendary and inspirational skipper, third in our list of the best French EPL players of all time.

Quick word of warning: this episode was recorded before Vieira got the chop at Palace, so some discussion on his managerial career may be a tad out of date. Still, no debating the player - undoubtedly one of the true EPL greats.