Planet Soccer

Yes, I agree. They are a fantastic team to watch. Juninho Perna...(long name) is a fantastic player and was certainly underused in this last World Cup. I think a Champions League Final appearnace isn't that far fetched at all... they've been close these last few years. I predict Lyon to be there and would bet like 5 bucks on it too (and for me that's a lot of dough)
G.

Lyon are undeniably the best team in France. To say that they are the best team in Europe is unfair to a lot of teams. Their position in the French league is akin to having the New York Yankees play in a minor league. If Lyon were such an incredible team in Europe, why is it that in the past decade they've made it to the finals of the Champions League all of once? They just don't compare with teams of other countries.

Just a reaction to Jared comment: Lyon is playing in the Champions League for the eighth year in a row and ended up their last three campains in quarter finals.
Only the best teams in Europe can manage to qualify over and over to the second round of the Champions League.
Lyon is definitely one of them.
And this year, as well as winning their domestic league for the sixth time in a row (this has never been done before in any major European league by the way)they could well win the Champions League also.
Check the tables and the stats, see who come on top...

I agree that Lyon is among the top 10 sides in Europe. They are exciting to watch and play nice football (soccer). However,I would not put them in the same class as Chelsea or Barcelona just yet. As Francois points out, they've ONLY made it to the quarterfinals and not gone beyond in recent years. Lyon plays in a league that is less competitive then La Liga or the EPL, and therefore, often times by Feb and March when the knockout games of CL are on Lyon is fresher, and able to focus more on CL then other teams as they've already wrapped up Ligue Un. It is for this reason that the bar needs to be set higher for Lyon to be considered among Europes top 2-3 teams. A CL win or finals appearance would do this for me.

For me Olympique de Lyon is one of the best team in Europe. The statistics don't lie, with Milan AC, Lyon is the only european team to reach 3 times consecutively the quarter finals of the Ch. Lg. Unfortunetly for Lyon they haven't any record. They play very well, but we never remember the teams that play very well but only those who win at end. For example, France national was the best team during this World Cup, but in the futur we will all forget that and just remember that Italy was the Champion.

For me Olympique de Lyon is one of the best team in Europe. The statistics don't lie, with Milan AC, Lyon is the only european team to reach 3 times consecutively the quarter finals of the Ch. Lg. Unfortunetly for Lyon they haven't any record. They play very well, but we never remember the teams that play very well but only those who win at end. For example, France national was the best team during this World Cup, but in the futur we will all forget that and just remember that Italy was the Champion.

John, you forgot to mention Fred and Benzema (their top 2 scorers), as well as Florent Malouda, who was great for France in the World Cup.

Another thing that you have to point out is the quality players that have left Lyon in the past few years - Essien to Chelsea and Diarra to Real Madrid to name but two. That's the difference between Lyon and the European powers like Chelski, Real, Barca, etc. To be able to lose such players and be continually successful and competitive, both domestically and in Europe, is truly impressive.

They are definitely one of the top teams in Europe, but the other commenters are right when they say that Lyon will not reach that 'elite' level until they reach and/or win a Champions League final.

I've been following Lyon for the past 7 years, and what impress most about this team is the fact that year after year they seem to keep an excellent team even after big losses. They had at one point the brazillian Sonny Anderson and Frenchman and Dhorasso that both left on tranfers plus countless other. And they manage do even do better year after year. I totally agree that they deserve more respect that they do the last few years. By the way Juninho is as good a free kicker as Beckham, if not better.

Hopefully Lyon do win the Champions league. They are an ageing team in many ways though , so whether they will be as sparkling next May , is anyone's guess.

I agree with most everyone that Lyon is among the best teams in europe.Anyway, the recognition on the pitch will only come by winning a champions league title. The other thing not mentionned is the business side. In selling top-rated players, Lyon does not fold the minute another European powerhouse shows interest. They negotiate, they hold out for their price. Smart, very smart. I also disagree that the French league is vastly inferior to other leagues. The so-called big leagues have more BIG TEAMS but that's about it. The critical mass of big teams obviously improves the level of competition but I personally don't think the bottom third of each table is astronomically different. From Portugual to Holland and from Greece to Scotland each league has at least one or two high performing team that could spank most Mid-table or lower Premiership or Liga teams.

I agree Lyon is a great team that is exciting to watch. They have been very impressive at times. However playing in the French league is a shot against them. The Italian , Spanish and English leagues are the top three in the world. The French league, exciting as it is, is more like a farm system for the big European clubs, like Real, Barca, Milan, and Chelsea. Even if they win the CL they will, in my opinion not be in the top five of Europe. Porto won resently and they are not close to being considered a powerhouse. Lyon will always a be fifth to tenth best.

Don't make me laugh!

The likes of Wiltord and Tiago are cast-offs from the English Premiership, as indeed is their manager Houllier himself.

They have done well, credit to them, in recent years but in a very weak French league and in the supportive environment of the 'Champions League'.

Don't forget no French team has ever won the European Cup (Marseille had some...er...problems off the pitch if you remember!), and Lyon will not break that run I guarantee you.

The fact is, if Lyon were playing in either the English or Spanish top division, they would struggle to finish in the top half...

Unfortunately, modern European football is dominated by the rich clubs and Lyon just don't fit.

Don't make me laugh!

The likes of Wiltord and Tiago are cast-offs from the English Premiership, as indeed is their manager Houllier himself.

They have done well, credit to them, in recent years but in a very weak French league and in the supportive environment of the 'Champions League'.

Don't forget no French team has ever won the European Cup (Marseille had some...er...problems off the pitch if you remember!), and Lyon will not break that run I guarantee you.

The fact is, if Lyon were playing in either the English or Spanish top division, they would struggle to finish in the top half...

Unfortunately, modern European football is dominated by the rich clubs and Lyon just don't fit.

I fellow that I worked with is from Lyon and he is a very proud supporter of the team.
He recently told me that the president of the club investing heavily in grass roots training and facilities 20 years ago, and it is paying good dividends now as per the clubs success.

I asked him how many players on the team were actually from Lyon. He replied that five out of the 25 on the team are from Lyon. To me, that is unheard of in professional sport.
Comparing this with hockey's Montreal Canadiens which has ony two players from Quebec on their roster, Lyon has developed an enviable grass roots sports program which has created quality players from their on backyard.

Randy Brehm

I fellow that I worked with is from Lyon and he is a very proud supporter of the team.
He recently told me that the president of the club investing heavily in grass roots training and facilities 20 years ago, and it is paying good dividends now as per the clubs success.

I asked him how many players on the team were actually from Lyon. He replied that five out of the 25 on the team are from Lyon. To me, that is unheard of in professional sport.
Comparing this with hockey's Montreal Canadiens which has ony two players from Quebec on their roster, Lyon has developed an enviable grass roots sports program which has created quality players from their on backyard.

Randy Brehm

The fact of the matter is, Lyon are a great team who continually dominate french football. However when faced with great sides in Europe they buckell under the pressure. This is the reason why they will not win the Champions League this year, or any other year until they learn to rise to the occasion.

Beating Real Madrid in the group states, or even in the knockout phase is not the only requisite for being the greatest team in europe. Real Madrid are currently not even the best team in spain let alone Europe.

Currently the best team in Europe is probably Barcelona whether I like it or not. However with the injury to Etoo they will find it hard to win this year as his absence will be felt.

That and Celtic will win the CL (or maybe im just that im a hardcore Celtic fan)

i think that lyon may best the best team in french league.however,that is their limit since the french league is more easier than the epl or spanish league.they become popular because of their achievement in the league.but outside france,they still cannot become a superpower like chelsea or barcelona

As a real football-sorry, soccer for you-fan, I can only laugh at this Lyon thing. Firstly, I respect them, because with little money they have managed to play really well and all that. But they can not be compared to the big European teams. I confess I'm a Barcelona supporter, therefore maybe not impartial, but Barcelona and
Chelsea are currently the best teams, Barcelona being a step above. Other good teams are Bayern, Arsenal, R.Madrid, Inter-not as good this year because of the Calcio scandal-and maybe even Liverpool, Manchester, Milan or Valencia. But certainly not Lyon, which, at least for me and considering not only the last years but it's whole history, is not even as good as Porto, Lazio, Atlético de Madrid...

i think lyon are up there at the moment with the top teams in europe but i think the champion leagues out of man utd and barca, chelsea are 1 minute wonders they wont last

lyon is the best club in the world of football.they have good players like the brazil midfielder The ultimate PENAMBUCANO JUNINHO,the portuguesemid field TIAGO and many more

i agree although i beleive they are the best team in the world even better than internacional of brazil the club of the year they have a great goalkeeper gregory coupet and there defence is great with cris cacapa and reveileire and they have a fine midfield led by juninho which could be possibly one of the top ten midfielders in the world but their a attack needs a little more work with fred missing.

I think ULTIMATE JUNINHO PENA..... deserve the world best player award,because the way he plays is fantastic & mervelous and most especially his magical freekick.

probably the best team in europe with barcelona, but their attack are not better as this spanish team i think they can win the C1 this year with a good luck

first of all i want to find out wether this site is from france or what?because to honest guy Lyon is a very good team but has never been te best team in europe,will never be and it is not the best.i respect them becoz they have good players and play well,but you cant compare them to barcelona not especially chelsea.they are top of the laegue may be becoz french league is not as competitive as others like laliga and english league.if they really want to be the best they want to be the best,hire mourinho as your coach and let abromovich