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.

Podcast: Episode 11 – A Grinchy Lyonnais Christmas

Gather around the hearth, bring all the mulled wine you can carry—you will need the booze, trust us—because the Lyon Offside team is back with some depressing Christmas-time crisis stories. Join Arianna (@AScavs), Nicholas (@NicholasMamo) and Sam (@OZOL1950) as they break down the current impasse at Lyon.

Cover: S. Guiochon/Le Progrès

Podcast: Episode 10 – Samba Cut Short?

It’s almost that time of the year again. By that, I most certainly don’t mean the Champions League group stage. I mean the annual retreat that Neymar likes to take back in his home country, Brazil. This year, Sylvinho might beat Neymar. Starved for the sweet taste of victory, Arianna (@AScavs), Nicholas (@NicholasMamo) and Sam (@OZOL1950) get together for an emergency reunion turned therapy session.

Cover: ol.fr

Podcast: Episode 9 – Tousart, or not Tousart, that is the question.

Two wins in two matches? Zero goals conceded but nine scored? Who is this team impersonating as Lyon? This week, Sam (@OZOL1950) and Rabeeta (@OffsideBeet) are joined by Jorge Rodrigues (@jrod258), the admin for OL’s North American supporter’s group (@OL_ADN). The three of them discuss Lyon’s promising season start, squad rotation, Martin Terrier’s amazing hair, and to go along with this week’s Shakespearean theme, the rather Hamlet-esque drama unfolding around the club’s two senior goalkeepers. This podcast also features predictions for upcoming matches that are both depressing and bold. Have a listen below and let us know if Rabeeta needs help. You will also find timestamps for specific topics if you’d like to jump around. If there are any topics you’d like us to cover, just tweet at any one of us, or you can send us an email at LyonOffside@gmail.com.