The French Football Show

Matt Spiro

Welcome to the definitive French football podcast. Host Matt Spiro and his guests attack the burning issues in the French game: will Kylian Mbappé finally get a Ballon d'Or, might Paul Pogba revive his career, can Lens push PSG all the way in the #Ligue1 title race, could Luis Enrique mastermind back-to-back Champions League triumphs, who are the players set to star at this summer's World Cup; and, crucially, when will Roberto De Zerbi and Olympique de Marseille spontaneously combust? Expect insightful analysis, cultural chat, beaucoup d'humour britannique and... a certain je ne sais quoi.

  1. 6D AGO

    Episode 26: Can shock leaders Lens knock PSG off their perch?

    There are just 12 games to play in France and Paris Saint-Germain are NOT top of the league. Racing Club de Lens are enjoying an extraordinary campaign. Host Matt Spiro, alongside guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams, uncover the secrets the northerners success this week and ask the big question: can Pierre Sage’s team go the distance and pull off one of the biggest surprises in modern football? In Part Two, the lads look back at a thrilling weekend in Ligue 1 that included a shock win for managerless Rennes over PSG, a 13th consecutive triumph for Lyon, against Nice, and yet more chaos in Marseille.  The FFS is available to watch on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

    40 min

  2. FEB 10

    Episode 25: Ligue 1's television revolution

    French football was plunged into a terrible financial crisis in 2020 when, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, its domestic television broadcaster pulled out of the contract. With revenues from TV rights subsequently collapsing, the professional game in France is still suffering. Matt Spiro explains exactly what happened, and with the aid of guests Andy Scott and Jonathan Johnson, examines the bold intiative seized by the French league to take matters into its own hands: Ligue 1 is now the first major European league to have its own in-house television channel, Ligue 1+, rather than selling its rights to a traditional broadcaster or streaming service. How is the project going? Is this a model that the other European leagues will soon adopt as well? And where does it leaves the French clubs financially? After trying their best to answer those HUGE questions, Matt, Andy and JJ cast their expert eyes over the Round 21 action in Ligue 1, as PSG humiliate Marseille, Lens make it ten straight home wins, and Lyon triumph for a 12th successive game, despite the sending off of Endrick. Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

    40 min

  3. FEB 3

    Episode 24: Is De Zerbi losing control at Marseille?

    The FFS takes a deep dive into the chaotic world of Olympique de Marseille this week. After crashing out of the Champions League in Bruges, the volatile Mediterranean giants are plunging towards yet another crisis. Host Matt Spiro investigates with the help of his guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams: is there a method behind Marseille's madness and is Roberto De Zerbi the man to end the club's 14-year search for silverware? Part 2 of the show dissects the latest Ligue 1 action as PSG and Lens pull clear of the chasing pack. There's a special mention for impressive Lorient and the guys run the rule over the major last-minute transfer deals. Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

    44 min

  4. JAN 26

    Episode 23: Can PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles?

    This time last year, PSG beat Manchester City in stunning fashion and turned what had been a faltering season into the most successful campaign of the club's history. Once again, Luis Enrique's charges have been below par (and injury-plagued) in the first half of this current season. This week's discussion, Le Dossier, sees host Matt Spiro ask guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams if it is all part of the grand plan. Are PSG keeping their powder dry again? Or are the physical travails of the past year - and the lack of transfer activity - starting to catch up with them. The Parisians are back on top of the Ligue 1 standings after Lens lost in Round 19. The guys delve into another exciting Ligue 1 weekend that included an Endrick hattrick for Lyon, an impressive Marseille debut for Ethan Nwaneri, and an emphatic win for Strasbourg and their new coach Gary O'Neil, who is quickly getting to grips with French football... and even French referees!

    49 min

  5. JAN 20

    Episode 22: We need to talk about Mason Greenwood

    He's the top-scorer in Ligue 1, the first Marseille striker to score twenty plus goals in back-to-back seasons for more than a decade, and yet many people find it hard to talk about - let along enthuse about - Mason Greenwood. The accusations levelled against the Englishman in the past have left a lot of observers feeling uneasy to say the least. But rather than ignore the subject, we dive in head first. Matt Spiro and his guests, Tom Williams and Baptiste Reynaud, offer their perspectives as professionals who cover the French game and report on Greenwood on a weekly basis. We hear from the Marseille-based journalist Mourad Aerts to discover the local view too. Interestingly, Greenwood is covered very differently in his homeland - where he is basically ignored by the UK press - compared to France where he is treated like a normal player. The majority of Marseille fans have even taken him to their hearts and Greenwood shirts continue to sell like hotcakes on the Vieux Port. Have a listen and let us know what you think. As always, the second part of the podcast is dedicated to Ligue 1, where RC Lens continue to set the pace at the top despite Ousmane Dembélé's brilliance for PSG against Lille.

    49 min

  6. JAN 14

    Episode 21: Is Endrick ready to light up Ligue 1 with Lyon?

    This week, Matt and Tom are joined by Brazilian football expert Jack Lang to discuss the arrival of wonderkid Endrick at Lyon. The teenager scored on his debut in the Coupe de France against Lille and excitement is growing in the Rhone Valley. Could he be the missing piece in Lyon's jigsaw and will the Real Madrid loanee force his way into Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup plans? There's also a nod to Paris FC who knocked their neighbours out of the Coupe de Frace. With PSG out, the likes of Marseille and Monaco are suddenly fancying their cup chances. Plus, we pay our respects to Rolland Courbis, a veritable French footballing icon, who sadly passed away this week aged 72.

    46 min

  7. JAN 7

    Episode 20: Strasbourg fans raging as Rosenior joins 'big brother' Chelsea

    We kick off the new year with a new name. The French Football Show replaces Across the Channel — but fear not: it’s the same team, the same voices, and the same weekly deep dive into French football. The format has evolved slightly, but the aim remains unchanged: to be informative, opinionated, and above all, good fun. Each episode now centres on “le dossier” - an in-depth discussion of a major talking point in the French game - before we move on to review the latest Ligue 1 action. This week, French football experts Matt Spiro, Tom Williams and Andy Scott dissect Liam Rosenior’s surprise move to Chelsea, a decision that has left Strasbourg supporters furious. Is Rosenior the right fit for the West London club? How successful was his spell in Alsace? And, more fundamentally, have BlueCo shown a lack of respect towards Strasbourg? With fans calling for the president to resign, the panel also examines the wider implications of the multi-club ownership model - and wonders whether new boss Gary O’Neil truly knows what he’s signing up for. In the second half, we look back on a thrilling weekend of Ligue 1 action, with Lens and PSG pulling clear at the top and an in-form Lyon closing in on Marseille and Lille in the race for Champions League qualification. With Endrick set to arrive, we ask: could 2026 be the year of Lyon?

    42 min

  8. 12/22/2025 · BONUS

    Episode 19: The Sébastien Bassong Interview

    In this special edition, Matt Spiro speaks to Sébastien Bassong about his journey from the Paris suburbs to the Premier League via the Clairefontaine academy and FC Metz. The former Cameroon defender experienced so many highs and lows during his colourful career; he speaks candidly about the heartbreak of getting released from Clairefontaine and tells wonderful stories from his time at Newcastle where he soaked up the Geordie passion, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen. At Spurs, Sébastien was charmed by Harry Redknapp, met a young Harry Kane and quickly learned that the best tactic was simply to 'give the ball to Luka Modric'. The latter years at Norwich were emotionally-charged too (and that's an understatement!). So sit back and enjoy this fascinating chat with friend of the podcast Monsieur Sébastien Bassong.

    54 min
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5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to the definitive French football podcast. Host Matt Spiro and his guests attack the burning issues in the French game: will Kylian Mbappé finally get a Ballon d'Or, might Paul Pogba revive his career, can Lens push PSG all the way in the #Ligue1 title race, could Luis Enrique mastermind back-to-back Champions League triumphs, who are the players set to star at this summer's World Cup; and, crucially, when will Roberto De Zerbi and Olympique de Marseille spontaneously combust? Expect insightful analysis, cultural chat, beaucoup d'humour britannique and... a certain je ne sais quoi.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Spiro
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Matt Spiro

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