It's a small revolution on the L'Équipe channel: the cult show "L'Équipe du Soir" is now airing every Saturday evening, from 23 p.m. to 00:30 a.m. And Giovanni Castaldi, a columnist and reporter well-known to viewers, will be hosting it. A great promotion for the man who has long worked on the set alongside Olivier Ménard and who sees this new version as an ideal platform for expression.
An “omnisports” version in the middle of the weekend
While football will remain the core of the program, Giovanni Castaldi hopes to open the show up to other disciplines: cycling, biathlon, Formula 1, rugby, etc. "We want the show to reflect the richness of the sporting weekend," he explains. A logical bet, given that Ligue 1 is also increasingly played on Saturdays and major competitions often fall on that day. Castaldi promises an atmosphere faithful to that of the historic show, with heated debates and a good dose of bad faith, always in good humor.
A cast mixing familiar faces and new blood
To bring this weekly event to life, the editorial team is counting on a subtle mix of familiar faces and new recruits. We'll find staples like Dave Appadoo and Éric Blanc, but also lesser-known profiles like Tidiany M'Bo or consultants Fred Piquionne and Matthieu Dossevi. The goal: to inject freshness while respecting the show's DNA. Giovanni Castaldi, for his part, is delighted to finally be able to "put his stamp" on a program he's followed and admired for years.
This new Saturday night slot is part of the channel's strategy to fill all the hot sports slots. And with the editorial freedom granted to Giovanni Castaldi, this version could well become a must-see for sports fans returning from a night out or looking to relive the day's hot news. "I'm proud to be a part of it, and I can't wait to offer my version of the show," says the journalist.
And as a nod to his dreams of the set, Castaldi makes a nod to his ideal guests: “I would love to have Didier Deschamps as president on a Saturday night. Or why not Mbappé… but there, I’m dreaming a little!”
