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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Dr Memphis and Mr Depay: The Two Faces of Lyon’s Dutchman

There are many versions of Memphis. There is rapper Memphis and there is fashionista Memphis. Fernando Marçal once claimed there is even a pastor Memphis. Crucially, there also exists footballer Memphis – the most contentious version – or versions – of them all.

Cover: @Memphis on Twitter

Breaking Records and Barriers on the OL Academy Fields

The OL Academy fields are legendary. On just about any given day, the Academy fields are populated with future superstars, male and female, promising youngsters who are surely just a few years away from dominating European football, just like Alexandre Lacazette and Wendie Renard, or Karim Benzema and Amel Majri before them. And then there was me, for one day only, lacing up my spikes on those hallowed grounds.

Lyon Or Bust: OL At The Women’s World Cup

It’s not unusual for the world’s best female soccer players to converge on Lyon over the summer . . . it’s just that usually they’re all wearing rouge et bleu and gearing up for preseason action. But this summer brings an international twist as the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup sweeps across France. All roads lead to Lyon, as the Parc OL will have the privilege of hosting the tournament’s semifinals (July 2 and 3) and final (July 7).

OL Féminin sends a tournament-leading 16 players (including the all-but-officially-announced Nikita Parris) to compete with their respective nations for women’s soccer’s greatest prize. Set aside hoisting the trophy–Which World Cup-bound Fenottes stand the best chance of actually advancing to the final four to compete at their home stadium? We’ve ranked the players and their national teams’ chances below.

Fourth And Goal: Weary Lyon Eye Another UWCL Title

OL Féminin are on the brink of a fourth straight UEFA Women’s Champions League title, a feat unseen in either the men’s or women’s game since Real Madrid swept the first five men’s titles to close out the 1950s. A star-studded showdown with FC Barcelona awaits. But do les Fenottes have enough left in the tank to bring the treble back to Lyon?

With just days to go before the big show, we’re checking in on how the teams got here, key storylines, and players to watch.