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The Lead: Roma's European Dream in Jeopardy Once positioned as Champions League contenders, Roma now finds itself fighting to secure even Europa League qualification under manager Gian Piero Gasperini. The experienced Italian coach, who achieved remarkable success with Atalanta, is facing growing uncertainty as his team's form has dramatically declined, raising questions about his future at the club. The Managerial Turmoil at Roma From the outset of Gasperini's tenure at Roma, there has been resistance. Despite his impressive track record, including leading Atalanta to consistent top-four finishes and Europa League glory in 2024, a section of Roma's supporters opposed his appointment. "Respect our history," read one banner outside the Stadio Olimpico last May. "Don't bring that shit Gasperini to [Roma's training ground at] Trigoria." The tension between Gasperini and the club was acknowledged at his presentation last June, where he sat alongside predecessor Claudio Ranieri, who had moved upstairs to serve as a "senior adviser." Ranieri made headlines this month by suggesting Gasperini was the club's fourth choice for the managerial role, stating he had proposed "five or six" names and that "three of those didn't come." The Performance Decline Roma made an encouraging start under Gasperini and were third in the table as recently as February 27, maintaining a four-point advantage over Juventus after a 3-3 draw. However, since then, everything has unraveled. The team went five games without a win across all competitions, resulting in elimination from the Europa League by Bologna. While they secured a 1-0 victory over Lecce, they were subsequently crushed 5-2 by Inter. By the time Roma faced Gasperini's former club, Atalanta, they had fallen to sixth place in the Serie A table, with Juventus, Napoli, and Como all overtaking them. This dramatic decline has placed European qualification in jeopardy and intensified scrutiny on the manager. The Statistical Reality Despite the managerial changes—Roma has had eight different managers in eight years—the club's results have remained remarkably consistent. This season's team has 58 points after 33 games, nearly identical to the 57 points they had at the same stage last season. Looking back further, Roma accumulated 58 points in each of the three preceding years, 56 in 2020-21, 57 in 2019-20, and 55 in 2018-19. This statistical stagnation stands in stark contrast to the 2017-18 season under Eusebio Di Francesco, when Roma finished third and reached the Champions League semi-finals. The current trajectory suggests that despite Gasperini's reputation for developing teams, Roma is struggling to break through to the next level. Impact on Italian Football Roma's struggles reflect broader challenges in Italian football, where even historically significant clubs find it difficult to maintain consistent competitiveness in European competitions. The club's inability to progress despite frequent managerial changes raises questions about the structural and strategic issues at the club. Gasperini's situation also highlights the complex nature of football management, where external factors like ownership changes and internal politics can impact performance. His emotional press conference, where he became emotional discussing his time at Atalanta, revealed the personal investment he has made in this role. The Road Ahead for Gasperini and Roma With the season approaching its conclusion, Gasperini faces a critical period. If Roma fails to secure Champions League qualification, his position will become increasingly untenable. The club's ownership must decide whether to continue with a manager who has brought stability but not the breakthrough they hoped for, or to make another change in pursuit of different results. For Gasperini, this season represents a significant test of his ability to adapt his successful Atalanta formula to a bigger club with different expectations and pressures. Regardless of the outcome, his experience has provided valuable insights into the challenges of managing one of Italy's most prestigious football clubs.

BackgroundAndy Simpson, a 71‑year‑old former Sale hooker, spent the bulk of his international career on the sidelines, sitting on England's bench for 21 matches during the 1970s and 1980s without ever taking the field.RFU Retroactive DecisionThe Rugby Football Union reviewed historic fixtures and re‑classified several games against full‑strength national sides – including a 1986 Italy vs England B match in which Simpson featured – as official Tests. This move added 47 former players to the capped list and scheduled a belated ceremony on 8 June.Key Career MomentsBench‑only record: 21 matches without a cap.Tour games: represented England in six non‑Test tour matches.Injury setback: severed thumb in a freak accident before the 1981 Five Nations, jeopardising a likely debut.Missed opportunities: was overlooked in the 1985 New Zealand second Test and the 1986 Scotland match despite injuries to starters.Notable Teammates and RivalsSimpson played alongside legends such as Bill Beaumont, Fran Cotton and Roger Uttley, and was often second‑string to Peter Wheeler, Steve Brain and Steve Mills. He recalls moments when coaches chose a lock (Nigel Redman) or another back‑row player (Jon Hall) instead of him.Impact and ReflectionThe retroactive cap not only validates Simpson's perseverance but also highlights the evolving nature of player recognition in the amateur era. Former teammate Richard Lee echoed the sentiment, noting that many “long‑suffering” forwards finally receive the acknowledgment they earned on the field.

England's women's rugby team delivered a dominant performance, scoring 12 tries and securing an 84-7 victory over Scotland in the Women's Six Nations. The match, held at Murrayfield, drew a record attendance of 30,498 spectators, marking a significant milestone for women's solo sporting events in Scotland. The visitors were in top form, with Ellie Kildunne scoring two tries, including her 50th for England. The team's impressive display was highlighted by Maddie Feaunati's crucial line break that led to Kildunne's opening try. Scotland, on the other hand, struggled with 13 handling errors and a tackle completion rate of just 59%, resulting in 52 missed tackles. England's head coach, John Mitchell, emphasized that his team will not become complacent despite the big win, stating, 'It is very unlikely I will ever get complacent. I am probably at my worst when we win because I drive to try to raise the floor even more.' The team's depth and talent were on full display, with 19-year-old Demelza Short making a solid debut at blindside flanker. Scotland's captain, Rachel Malcolm, acknowledged the team's poor performance, saying, 'You never want to see a scoreline like that. We need to dust ourselves off pretty quickly.' The hosts will look to bounce back against Italy next week, while England will host Wales in the next round.

Rachel Reeves, the UK Chancellor, has valid concerns about the bond market vigilantes, who are traders seeking high-interest rates from government lending. These vigilantes target countries with uncontrolled spending, making borrowing more expensive. The UK's political instability and high debt levels have put it in their sights, along with Italy and France. The bond vigilantes are traders who pursue high-interest rates from government lending, often targeting countries with uncontrolled spending. The UK's deficit of 5-6% after the pandemic and rising interest rates on 10-year bonds have raised concerns. In early 2022, the yield on 10-year UK bonds was about 1%, but it rose to 4% two years later and reached 4.9% last week. Reeves aims to reduce the annual deficit below 2% by 2031, which received praise from Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF chief. However, Reeves can afford to ditch one unhelpful fiscal rule that requires reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio in the final year of the five-year economic forecasts. This rule hinders long-term investments, such as extra defence spending, which could begin in four to five years. An open trading economy like the UK must play by the rules of international bond markets. Nevertheless, there is room for manoeuvre. By revising this fiscal rule, Reeves can support vital investments without violating existing commitments. The UK's economic stability and ability to defend itself depend on making sensible decisions, not adhering to outdated rules.

A recent genealogical study has uncovered a fascinating connection between Nintendo's beloved characters, Super Mario and Luigi, and their real-life namesake, Mario Arnold Segale. Mario Segale's father was named Luigi, a fact that may have inadvertently influenced Nintendo's choice of names for the iconic video game brothers.Mario Arnold Segale, a Washington state businessman, was Nintendo of America's landlord in the 1980s. The company based Super Mario's moniker off Segale – along with aspects of his appearance – before the character went on to sell hundreds of millions of copies across various platforms.Elisabeth Zetland, a senior researcher with the genealogy service MyHeritage, made the discovery while exploring Segale's ancestral background. She found that Luigi Maria Segale, Mario's father, was born in 1886 in Favale di Malvaro, Italy, and immigrated to the US with his brother Giuseppe in 1909.Luigi Segale, who adopted the anglicized first name Louis, served in the US armed forces during World War I and later worked as an independent farmer. By 1940, he and his wife Rina had a six-year-old son named Mario, who would one day inspire the iconic video game character.The study highlights the legacy of Italian dreams and American opportunity that defined Luigi Segale's life and, indirectly, the lives of his son Mario and the fictional characters that bear their names.Mario Segale's connection to Super Mario has been well-documented, but the discovery of his father's name adds a new layer of depth to the story. Nintendo did not comment on whether they were aware of the coincidence between Luigi Segale and the fictional character.

Juba, South Sudan – Growing up, Khloe Nyanda was taught to stay small and avoid taking up space. Defying that lesson, the 21‑year‑old law student at the University of Juba pursued modeling after being inspired by South Sudanese supermodel Adut Akech, whose refugee‑to‑runway story she describes as a "crown".Nyanda’s ambition mirrors that of a new generation of South Sudanese talent, with 95% of models from the country naming Akech as their spark. She began modeling in 2023, but her family remained skeptical, fearing the clash between academic responsibilities and a fashion career.Her personal journey has been marked by familial estrangement after she rejected an arranged marriage and a modelling coach’s advances, leading to loss of support from her stepbrother and other relatives.Beyond social pressures, Nyanda faces systemic obstacles. Since 2023 she has endured multiple visa rejections despite contracts with agencies in London, Paris, and Italy. An attempt to attend Milan Fashion Week was denied by the Italian embassy in Nairobi over bank‑statement issues, while two separate applications to the French embassy in Kampala were also turned down. The absence of South Sudanese embassies in France and Italy forces hopeful models to obtain travel documents from neighboring countries, inflating costs and delays.Another emerging model, 20‑year‑old Alek Mayen Garang, balances her senior‑year studies with runway aspirations. Born in Greater Jonglei and raised in Renk, she spent part of her childhood in Kampala before returning to South Sudan amid the 2016 conflict. Garang draws inspiration from Anok Yai, the American‑South Sudanese model named Model of the Year at the 2025 British Fashion Awards.Unlike Nyanda, Garang found an ally in her elder sister, who accompanied her to her first runway show and helped negotiate parental approval. Her early challenges were technical—learning to walk in heels, maintaining strict diet and skincare regimens—and the lingering fear of rejection at auditions.Both women are part of a broader South Sudanese surge in global fashion. Nine of the world’s top 50 models on models.com hail from South Sudan, underscoring the country’s deep talent pool. Former models have transitioned to design and entrepreneurship, founding South Sudan Fashion Week and creating bespoke wedding gowns.Industry veterans now coach new talent, urging them to prioritize education alongside modeling. Yet a new anxiety looms: the potential rise of AI‑generated Black models, which could further destabilize already precarious careers.Within South Sudan, the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage has been criticized for its limited engagement with the modeling sector. Advocates argue that official endorsement could shift parental attitudes and legitimize modeling as a respectable profession.Garang recently won the “creativity” award at the national Miss Junub beauty pageant, expanding her vision from personal success to mentoring emerging designers and models. Nyanda, meanwhile, envisions a future beyond the runway: she plans to invest her earnings in establishing a credible mother agency, as well as a school and hospital for orphans, aiming to reinvest in her homeland.“South Sudan is not a place I am running from; it is the place I am running for,” Nyanda declares, embodying a resolve to reshape societal expectations and create pathways for the next generation of South Sudanese talent.

Israel's increasing international isolation has led to a growing rift with European countries, who are frustrated by its actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Despite longstanding ties, European governments are finding it difficult to ignore public opinion, which has shifted against Israel. European countries, including Italy, the UK, Ireland, and Spain, have criticized Israel's actions, with some calling for a halt to its attacks on Lebanon and Iran. Analysts warn that the conflict threatens to tip the world into recession. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to criticism by claiming Israel is a defender of Western values, stating that Europe has become 'afflicted by deep moral weakness'. He argued that Europe is 'losing control of its identity, of its values, of its responsibility to defend civilisation against barbarism'. Netanyahu's comments have been met with skepticism, with many pointing out that Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are at odds with its pretence of being a liberal democracy. Israeli academic and filmmaker Haim Bresheeth said that Israel's actions are 'not the sort of thing liberal democracies do'. The rift between Israel and Europe is expected to continue, with little chance of self-reflection or internal reckoning among Israel's political leadership. As Chatham House senior consulting fellow Yossi Mekelberg said, 'There's a sense that, if they don't like us, then we must be doing something right'.

Alex Manninger, 48, died when his vehicle was hit by a train at a level crossing near Salzburg on Thursday morning. The accident occurred at approximately 8:20 am local time (06:20 GMT), according to Salzburg police. The former Austria goalkeeper, who earned 33 caps for his country, spent the early part of his career at Arsenal (1997‑2001), where he was part of the squad that won the league and FA Cup in the 1997‑98 season, before finishing his playing days at Liverpool in 2017. In Italy he guarded the posts for Fiorentina, Torino, Bologna, Siena, Udinese and Juventus. OEFB Sporting Director Peter Schoettel called Manninger “an outstanding ambassador of Austrian football” and praised his “professionalism, calmness and reliability” that inspired a generation of young goalkeepers. Police reports indicate the car was hit by a railcar of the Salzburger Lokalbahn while crossing the tracks and was dragged along. The driver – Manninger – was alone in the vehicle; the train driver escaped injury. First responders freed him, but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Clubs paid tribute: Fiorentina announced a minute’s silence and black armbands for their Conference League match against Crystal Palace, while Arsenal expressed shock on social media. Liverpool and Juventus also released statements, with Juventus noting that Manninger will be remembered for his “humility, dedication and exceptional professionalism.” The tragic loss underscores the dangers of level‑crossing accidents and has prompted an outpouring of grief across the football community.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has died at the age of 48 in a car accident in Austria. Manninger, who helped Arsenal win the Double in 1998, was capped 33 times by Austria and played for several clubs including Red Bull Salzburg, Espanyol, and Liverpool.The accident occurred at around 8:20am local time when Manninger's car was hit by a railcar while crossing a railway crossing. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Manninger was pronounced dead at the scene.Manninger's former clubs and teammates paid tribute to him, with Arsenal posting: “All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly sad time. Rest in peace, Alex.” Liverpool FC also expressed their sadness, stating: “Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of former goalkeeper Alex Manninger at the age of 48. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Alex’s family and friends at this difficult time.”The Austrian Football Association mourned his death, describing him as an “outstanding” servant to Austrian football. Its sporting director, Peter Schöttel, said: “Alexander Manninger was an outstanding ambassador of Austrian football on and off the pitch. With his international career, he has set standards and inspired and shaped many young goalkeepers.”Former Italy keeper Gigi Buffon, who played alongside Manninger, paid his own tribute on Instagram, writing: “Dear Alex. Every word is superfluous. Every tear would be just another for the loss of a friend and someone I’ve always admired. You chose to remain independent from the addiction of the world of football, seeking your happiness in the simple things: a healthy life in the woods, fishing, nature, family. This was your credo.”