Javier Mascherano has silenced his early critics by guiding Inter Miami to MLS Cup glory with a victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in December.

The former Argentina midfielder took charge of the Florida franchise in November 2024 without any senior managerial experience.

His appointment raised eyebrows across North American football, particularly as he succeeded the highly experienced Gerardo Martino in the dugout.

Questions were inevitably asked about whether the 40-year-old was handed the role solely due to his close relationship with club captain Lionel Messi.

Overcoming early doubts

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas immediately defended the shock selection during the introductory press conference.

He brings to the club the uncommon experience of having worked with the young players and with the most important players of this club.

The two-time Olympic gold medallist openly acknowledged the scepticism surrounding his arrival.

I understood that when there is criticism, it’s often not directed at the person, it’s not a personal issue, but rather a reflection of the position you’re in.

He recognised that following a seasoned coach who had struggled to meet expectations would naturally breed doubt among supporters and the press.

Weathering the storm

The new tactician endured a torrid start to his tenure in Fort Lauderdale.

His side crashed out of the Concacaf Champions Cup at the semi-final stage and managed just one win in eight matches between April and May.

During that dismal spring run, the Herons conceded a staggering 23 goals while recording a mediocre domestic record.

Despite the alarming slump in form, the club’s hierarchy refused to entertain external inquiries regarding the manager’s future.

Building player trust

The playing squad remained fiercely loyal to their beleaguered boss throughout the difficult transitional period.

The former Barcelona stalwart fostered an immediate connection with his dressing room by relying on his extensive playing pedigree.

As a coach, the message has to be internal first.

That foundation of authenticity ultimately paid dividends as the team sparked a remarkable turnaround to secure the ultimate prize against Vancouver.

Mercedes driver George Russell has criticised the defensive driving of former team-mate Lewis Hamilton as “mega dangerous” following his victory at the Australian Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old led a commanding one-two finish for the Silver Arrows ahead of rookie Kimi Antonelli at Albert Park on Sunday.

However, previously unbroadcast team radio messages have revealed the race winner’s frustration with the defensive tactics employed by the newly-formed Ferrari pairing.

High-speed defensive concerns

The controversy centres on a lap 28 incident where the recovering Mercedes driver rapidly closed in on the seven-time world champion.

As they approached the high-speed Turn 9, the British racing icon defended his position robustly to block the inside line.

“So much movement in the straight when these guys are defending. It’s mega dangerous,” stated the eventual race winner over his team radio.

Earlier in the 58-lap contest, similar frustrations were directed towards Charles Leclerc during an initial battle for the lead.

Early clashes and engine debates

The Monegasque racer reportedly forced his rival towards the inside of the track as they prepared for a manoeuvre at Turn 11.

“That was very dangerous by Leclerc, especially after what we spoke about in the briefing,” the Mercedes star reported to his race engineer.

Following their dominant display in Melbourne, the current constructors’ champions now turn their attention to the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix.

The victorious driver anticipates light-hearted complaints from his former garage partner regarding the impressive performance of the new Mercedes power unit.

“I’m flying with Lewis, so I’m sure I’m going to hear ‘your engine is so good, your compression ratio is illegal’ and this and that,” he joked.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hinted at his eventual retirement from football, suggesting his departure from the Etihad Stadium could happen sooner rather than later.

The decorated manager is contracted to the Premier League champions until the summer of 2027, but speculation continues to mount over an early exit.

Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid, the Catalan coach reflected on the grounds he will miss when he eventually steps away from the dugout.

Praise for rival stadiums

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss admitted he holds deep affection for various away venues across Europe and England.

“Those games, of course I will miss, I have incredible love in this place, I like to come,” Guardiola told TNT Sports.
“The people in Madrid don’t expect it, but I have a lot of respect for this institution, they’ve done many many good things for world football.”

The highly decorated tactician also expressed fondness for domestic trips to the likes of Selhurst Park and Goodison Park.

“I will miss these nights because they are so special,” he added.
“I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of – FA Cup! Against League One teams… I like a lot! But one day it will be over, right?”

Sabbatical plans on the horizon

Succession planning is reportedly already underway in Manchester, with club chiefs considering potential replacements since December.

The serial winner previously took a year-long sabbatical in 2012 following a trophy-laden stint at Camp Nou, before moving to Germany.

A similar break from the relentless pressure of management appears likely when his current tenure inevitably concludes.

“I know that after this stage with City I’m going to stop, that’s for sure, it’s decided, more than decided,” he stated.

Whether he transitions into a behind-the-scenes role or leaves the sport entirely, the inevitable end of a defining era is steadily approaching.

Scotland back-rower Rory Darge believes his side are perfectly primed for the pressure of their decisive Six Nations finale against Ireland in Dublin this weekend.

Gregor Townsend’s resurgent team travel across the Irish Sea knowing a victory could secure a historic first championship title, provided France drop points against England.

A triumph would also guarantee the visitors a first Triple Crown since 1990.

However, the national side must first end a dismal run of 11 successive defeats against an opponent they have not beaten since 2017.

Thriving under knockout conditions

The Scots have operated in must-win territory since suffering a narrow 18-15 defeat to Italy in the opening round of the tournament.

Consecutive victories over England, Wales and France have subsequently resurrected their campaign heading into ‘Super Saturday’.

Darge insists that overcoming the adversity of their early setback in Rome has mentally fortified the squad.

“Our backs were against the wall after Rome,” the forward explained.

“Sione Tuipulotu had said to the group that you can’t expect to lose two games and still be in the mix towards the end of the campaign.”

He added that the sudden-death nature of their recent fixtures has made the prospect of this weekend massively exciting rather than daunting.

Overcoming the Irish hoodoo

While the overall championship remains dependent on results elsewhere, claiming the Triple Crown rests entirely in Scottish hands.

The 24-year-old acknowledges the immense physical and tactical challenge awaiting them.

“I’ve not beaten Ireland before, they’re a tough team to beat and they’ve been right up there as one of the best teams in the world,” he admitted.

“I think Ireland will pose a different threat to France; they play a different style and defend differently.”

Despite Scotland’s imposing historical deficit in this fixture, the Glasgow Warriors star remains convinced his teammates will back themselves.

Adaptability amid chaos

The squad travel to Dublin buoyed by a breathless 50-40 triumph over Les Bleus in their previous outing.

That high-scoring victory required extreme adaptability on the pitch, with Darge even playing the closing stages in the midfield after centre Huw Jones departed injured.

“It was a bit of a weird one, it was a bit hectic towards the end,” he reflected on his makeshift positional switch.

“We had bodies out of position but I thought we managed it well, and I had to get some help from the guys around me, but they all kept me right.”

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has praised Lewis Hamilton’s strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, while warning the squad still faces a massive development battle to catch Mercedes.

The Maranello outfit ran the reigning champions closest during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Charles Leclerc and his British team-mate finished third and fourth respectively after challenging eventual race winner George Russell in the early stages.

Rapid development key to title hopes

Adapting to the sweeping new 2026 technical regulations remains a formidable challenge up and down the grid.

Vasseur highlighted several key areas where the team must immediately find crucial performance gains:

“The result will be based on our capacity to improve quickly.”

Frederic Vasseur

The Scuderia boss believes the ultimate championship outcome will be dictated by which constructor can manufacture and deliver upgrades to the track fastest.

Hamilton settled in second season

The French engineer expressed immense satisfaction with the seven-time world champion, who is now embarking on his second campaign wearing the famous scarlet overalls.

The atmosphere within the Italian camp is notably more optimistic compared to recent challenging campaigns.

Last year, the historic franchise was forced to wait until the fifth round of the calendar just to secure a spot on the podium.

Wolff wary of Maranello threat

Attention now immediately turns to this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, which hosts the first Sprint event of the new era.

Rival team boss Toto Wolff has already acknowledged the looming threat, admitting his Mercedes outfit has a genuine fight on their hands.

“Now I prefer to start the season in a good shape than in a bad shape, but it’s still a long way to go.”

Frederic Vasseur

Norwegian outsiders Bodo/Glimt will continue their historic Champions League run when they host Portuguese title-holders Sporting CP in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday.

The modest club from a fishing town of just 55,000 residents has defied all expectations to reach the knockout stages of Europe’s premier competition.

Located above the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian outfit sits further north than any side to have previously competed at this elite level.

Giant-killing pedigree

The Eliteserien champions enter Wednesday’s clash boasting a remarkable four-match winning streak in the tournament.

This formidable run includes a stunning 3-1 home victory over Manchester City and a 2-1 triumph away against Atletico Madrid.

Crucially, the giant-killers also secured impressive home and away victories against last season’s runners-up Inter Milan.

These phenomenal European results were achieved despite the matches taking place during the domestic off-season in Scandinavia.

Plastic pitches and polar nights

Visiting teams must contend with severe geographical and climatic challenges when travelling to the 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadium.

The town experiences less than an hour of daylight during mid-winter, forcing the squad to take vitamin supplements to combat the lack of sun.

Temperatures for the evening kick-off against the Lisbon giants are forecast to hover around a bitterly cold 3C.

Furthermore, Sporting will have to adapt to playing on an artificial surface.

From elevator club to European elite

Founded in 1916, the yellow-and-black outfit endured a century-long wait before finally securing their maiden top-flight crown.

Historically regarded as a yo-yo team bouncing between divisions, their recent domestic dominance has been remarkably orchestrated by a manager with a background as a fighter pilot.

Plans are now under way to construct a new 10,000-seat Arctic Arena as this extraordinary sporting fairytale continues to unfold.

Iran will not compete at the upcoming World Cup in North America due to the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, the country’s sports minister has confirmed.

Ahmad Donyamal stated that the national team cannot participate following the assassination of their leader and the ensuing military confrontation.

The Asian nation had successfully qualified for the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

They were recently drawn into Group G, where they were scheduled to face Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand from 11 June.

Government cites malicious measures for withdrawal

Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup.

Ahmad Donyamal

In view of the malicious measures taken against Iran, two wars were forced upon us within eight or nine months, and several thousand of our people were killed.

Therefore, we definitely have no possibility of participating in this way.

Fifa and US response to the boycott

The withdrawal directly contradicts recent statements from football’s global governing body, which had expected Team Melli to fulfill their fixtures.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino recently claimed that US president Donald Trump had expressed a willingness to welcome the Iranian squad.

During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States.

Gianni Infantino

Infantino emphasised the sport’s ability to unite people, thanking the American leadership for supporting the global event.

Fifa chief executive Heimo Schirgi also downplayed the impact of any potential absence on the tournament’s broader success.

The World Cup will go on obviously, right? The World Cup is too big, and we hope that everyone can participate that has qualified.

Heimo Schirgi

Ongoing military conflict escalates

The unprecedented sporting boycott comes as the war in the Middle East reaches its 11th day of active hostilities.

President Trump described the military campaign as being significantly ahead of schedule, expressing dissatisfaction with Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell has heavily criticised Celtic and Rangers for their silence following the violent scenes that marred Sunday’s Old Firm match at Ibrox.

Supporters and police officers sustained injuries after clashes erupted on the pitch following the away side’s penalty shootout victory.

Nine individuals have already been arrested in connection with the widespread disorder.

Clubs face criticism for remaining silent

Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, the nation’s top police officer expressed her dismay that neither Glasgow rival had publicly condemned the violence by Monday evening.

Farrell confirmed she had not held direct discussions with either team’s hierarchy since the weekend’s chaotic events.

The Scottish Football Association did issue a swift statement less than 40 minutes after the final whistle, promising an immediate investigation.

Meanwhile, both outfits have maintained an active presence on social media without addressing the severe crowd trouble.

The green-and-white half of Glasgow recently commemorated the appointment of legendary European Cup-winning manager Jock Stein.

Conversely, the Light Blues opted to post a birthday message dedicated to their goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Police demand improved stadium safety

Addressing Holyrood’s public audit committee, Farrell warned that simply deploying extra officers would not fix the deep-rooted cultural problems.

“We can put more and more resources into football, but that does not solve the underlying issue that people will be able to attend those events without fearing for their safety.”

She branded the shocking scenes as absolutely disgraceful while strongly condemning the perpetrators involved.

The violence included an alarming pitch invasion where a 47-year-old man allegedly assaulted both a coach and a player.

Ongoing criminal investigations

Authorities have also charged a 54-year-old individual with assaulting a female police officer during the post-match melee.

“We witnessed one of my officers being deliberately tripped on that pitch as she ran to offer assistance to people in the stadium.”

Three additional men are facing charges relating to a serious assault on Helen Street shortly after the fixture concluded.

A 10-year-old boy was tragically struck by a coin during the altercations, prompting further police inquiries into vandalism and graffiti at the venue.

Farrell reiterated that fans, club staff, and emergency workers should never be subjected to such hostility while simply attending a sporting event.