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

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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 already plenty to discuss after an eventful opening round that saw PSG having to move their home fixture on Sunday to Rennes due to the sudden appearance of mushrooms on the Parc des Princes pitch! It was a tough test for Luis Enrique's men who salvaged a point thanks to a second-half fightback inspired by new man Ferran Torres.

Marseille put four past Strasbourg in Bruno Genesio's first game at the helm, while Dino Topmoller also enjoyed a memorable debut in the dugout, steering Lens to a 5-2 triumph over Auxerre. Matt, Jonathan Johnson plus Ligue 1 commentators Jeremy Klayman and Andy Scott bring you everything you need to know from Matchday 01.

You can of course watch the FFS on Youtube as well:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 more gears France have to move into, show love to Manu Koné - and address the biggest mystery of all: why can't Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi take a proper penalty ;) ?

Watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 with Sweden, examining the key tactical battles, team news, selection dilemmas and where the Scandinavians might pose a threat. Can France maintain their momentum and take another step towards World Cup glory?

Watch the FFS on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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/@TheFrenchFootballShow

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 Didier Deschamps has assembled a team capable of going all the way. Plus, what went wrong for Senegal and what lies ahead for both sides in Group I?

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 Teranga Lions are looking to upstage their former colonial masters once again. Ricardo Faty was 15 and training at the Clairefontaine academy at the time - and like everyone in France, he vividly remembers the moment Papa Bouba Diop stunned the world champions.

24 years on, will history repeat itself? Ricardo Faty insists Les Bleus won't be complacent this time around, but also thinks Didier Deschamps is facing some difficult selection decisions.

Watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BxanCH3x4g

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 France still is.

Matt is then joined by broadcaster Tom Williams and commentator Andy Scott to preview the big one: PSG versus Arsenal on May 30. Who will win this season's Champions League final? And will the French still be talking about 'le back-to-back' (comme disent les anglais!!!!) at the final whistle in Budapest?

Thanks for your support this season all! Don't forget the FFS is available on Youtube. Make sure you subscribe to our channel to get all the latest content when it lands!

Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow