Unbreakable Rudi

Could you do your job so poorly that you make it impossible to get fired? Probably not, but then again, you’re not Rudi Garcia.

Cover: Damien LG – OL

France Coach Corinne Diacre Just Can’t Get Along

It was June 11, 2019, the eve of France’s World Cup match against Norway, and Corinne Diacre was dazzling the press with her deadpan humor.  “I’m strict and intransigent,” she joked.  “We don’t have any fun here.  The girls are very unhappy.”  And the media laughed and laughed.

The only problem is that her players actually are unhappy. And Diacre is on the brink of losing control of a once-formidable France squad.

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Ligue 1: What Will French Football Look Like After COVID-19?

Sports is not a priority right now. The COVID-19 pandemic has rightfully taken its place. It is important that you follow the instructions of your local government and health institutions: even if you think that COVID-19 will not affect you, you could spread it to someone who would be affected by it. This article does not seek to belittle the ongoing pandemic, but while most of us are cooped up at home, it’s nice to be able to talk about football.

Cover: ol.fr

At the time of writing, football worldwide has faded in the background. On Tuesday afternoon, UEFA suspended European competitions and made the unprecedented move to postpone EURO 2020 to next year in the hope that the current season can conclude. France, like most of the world, is battling a pandemic that is straining health resources and personnel.

Amid all the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, the future of the 2019/2020 Ligue 1 season, like football elsewhere, has clouded over. For a few days, weeks or months, football was set to become secondary. That changed with jarring effect over the weekend, when the pandemic gave way to a polemic.

Podcast: Episode 12 – Topsy-Turvy in 2020

It’s a new year and everything is upside down for Lyon. Is this optimism and positivity we’re feeling for the men’s team? Nerves and dread for the women’s team? 2020 is a strange new world, but Sam (@OZOL1950) and Arianna (@AScavs) are back to break down these surprising developments in Episode 12 of the Lyon Offside Podcast.

Lyon Offside’s 2019 Women’s Player of the Year

Thirty-seven games, thirty-four wins, zero losses, and five trophies. All in all, not a bad 2019 for OL Féminin, which closed out a decade of dominance with yet another show of European–and even global–supremacy. We could be here until 2020 shouting out all the players whose show-stopping performances contributed to a hugely successful year, but before the calendar flips, we’ve picked our Lyon Offside 2019 Women’s Players of the Year.