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President Donald Trump's recent primetime address on the war with Iran has sparked widespread bewilderment and criticism. The speech, which lasted 19 minutes, was marked by slurred words and stumbling syntax. Trump vaguely stated that the US is 'on track to complete all of America's military objectives shortly,' but failed to provide a clear endgame or sense of direction.During the address, Trump vowed to continue bombing Iran to 'bring them back to the stone ages,' where he claimed they belonged. This statement has been widely criticized, with commentators describing it as a threat of war crimes. Chris Hayes of MSNBC called the speech a 'litany of lies he's told before,' while Robert Malley, a former lead negotiator for the nuclear deal, wrote that Trump's threat to send Iranians 'back to the stone ages' was a cavalier threat of war crimes.The speech has been criticized for lacking a clear endgame or sense of direction. Ian Bremmer, the founder and president of the Eurasia Group, called the address '19 minutes of a rambling, unmoored and unserious commander in chief.' Joseph Cirincione, a veteran arms control negotiator, accused Trump of lying about the 2015 nuclear deal, which Trump abandoned in 2018.The war with Iran has now raged for a month, and the absence of defined goals in Trump's speech has been highlighted by critics. Brian Finucane of the Crisis Group and a former state department legal adviser on military operations noted that the speech merely regurgitated prior social media posts, raising questions about Trump's war aims.

When asked before Arsenal’s win over Everton how the upcoming international break might affect his squad, Mikel Arteta stressed the club’s “good communication” with national team coaches and promised to make “the right decisions” after assessing each player’s condition. That cautious optimism was quickly shattered. Following the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, a cascade of withdrawals began. William Saliba pulled out of France’s squad with a left‑ankle injury, and Jurriën Timber missed the Netherlands call‑up due to a lingering groin problem. Within 24 hours, Gabriel Magalhães (Brazil) and Leandro Trossard (Belgium) also withdrew, while Eberechi Eze was forced out of England duty because of a calf strain that kept him out of the cup final. Captain Martin Ødegaard, still recovering from a previous ankle‑ligament injury sustained on international duty, did not feature in the final and subsequently withdrew from Norway’s squad. Arsenal’s injury list continued to grow on Friday when Noni Maduke (England) and Piero Hincapié (Ecuador) limped out of their respective friendlies. Both are doubtful for the FA Cup clash with Southampton at St Mary’s, though the club hopes they may return sooner. Mid‑week, Martín Zubimendi became the eleventh Arsenal player to pull out of an international roster, citing pain in his left knee. The Spain midfielder has logged more Premier League minutes than any Arsenal player this season, edging out Declan Rice and Jurriën Timber. Despite the setbacks, Viktor Gyökeres showed full commitment to Sweden, scoring a hat‑trick in the play‑off against Ukraine and later netting the decisive goal against Poland. By contrast, Riccardo Calafiori returns to London after Italy’s 120‑minute defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina, a match that highlighted Italy’s ongoing World Cup qualification woes. Arteta’s dilemma mirrors the challenges faced by Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 2000s, when the Manchester United legend famously limited his players’ international minutes. The modern Arsenal squad, arguably one of the deepest in Premier League history, now faces a delicate balancing act: preserving player fitness while competing on three fronts – the league, the FA Cup, and the Champions League quarter‑final against Sporting Lisbon next week in Portugal. With the club already having contested over 50 matches this season and potentially adding another 15 if they reach both cup finals, the psychological impact of another major‑trophy loss could be significant. Arteta will need his remaining fit players to step up and deliver, or risk seeing the season’s ambitions slip away.

Iraq's national team, known as the Lions of Mesopotamia, ended their four-decade wait for a World Cup appearance with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bolivia. The match took place at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on Tuesday. Ali al-Hamadi opened the scoring in the 10th minute, giving Iraq a strong start. However, Bolivia's Moises Paniagua equalized 28 minutes later, making the match closely contested.The deadlock was broken shortly after halftime when Aymen Hussein scored the winning goal in the 53rd minute, slotting in a cross from Marko Farji. This goal secured Iraq's place as the 48th team to qualify for the tournament.Iraq's journey to the World Cup was not without challenges. The team's participation was in doubt due to travel chaos caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Coach Graham Arnold had pleaded with organizers to delay the match to allow the squad to assemble and train. The players and coaching staff eventually arrived in Mexico just a week before the match and began preparations.Arnold expressed his delight with the win, stating, 'I must congratulate the players who played with real Iraqi mentality, fighting and putting their bodies on the line and that's why we won the game.' He added, 'I am so happy that we've made 46 million people happy, and especially with what's going on in the Middle East at the moment.'Iraq will face a tough challenge in the World Cup, placed in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Senegal. Their opening game is against Norway on June 16 in Boston, followed by matches against France on June 22 in Philadelphia and Senegal on June 26 in Toronto, Canada.

Italy's 10-man team failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, marking another disappointing performance for the four-time World Cup winners.The Italian team's over-reliance on defensive tactics, known as Catenaccio, was evident in the match, as they went a goal up and a man down, only to be equalized by Bosnia and Herzegovina with 11 minutes remaining.The Italian press reacted with anger and frustration, with headlines like 'VIA TUTTI!' (Everyone out!) and criticism from coach Rino Gattuso, who expressed pride in his team's performance despite the loss.In contrast, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrated their historic win, with Edin Dzeko leading a late-night sing-song on social media.The loss has sparked renewed criticism of Italy's approach to the game, with some questioning their ability to adapt and innovate.

Thomas Tuchel admitted with a wry smile that trying to assemble a cohesive side in just three days for the Uruguay friendly was "ridiculous," underscoring the chaotic nature of England’s recent international window. The match at Wembley ended in a 1‑1 draw with Uruguay, followed three days later by a 1‑0 loss to Japan. Tuchel framed these results as preferable to a harsher narrative, but the underlying issues were far more complex. Tuchel’s strategy hinged on a 24‑man squad for Uruguay, with the intention of auditioning fringe players, before bolstering the team with eleven established internationals for the Japan game. However, a cascade of injuries crippled his plans: John Stones withdrew with a fitness problem, Reece James was sidelined, Jude Bellingham arrived unfit, and later Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane all pulled out. These absences forced Tuchel to experiment with formations – a 4‑2‑4 against Japan featuring twin No 10s Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, and a hurriedly assembled setup against Uruguay after only four training sessions in three days. The result was a lackluster performance, with moments of technical skill but no decisive attacking thrust. Tuchel emphasized the concept of load management, noting the heavy minutes his players logged during a grueling club season. He argued that the friendlies allowed a lighter touch, yet the fatigue was evident, especially in the Japan match where he observed “clear signs of tiredness.” Despite the setbacks, Tuchel took responsibility for the tactical choices, stating, “I am responsible for changing the structure because I wanted to give us more security.” He also highlighted that the squad’s resilience in September, October and November will be crucial as they head toward the World Cup. Looking forward, Tuchel stressed that avoiding over‑exertion now could pay dividends in the summer, insisting, “We will not start doubting. We will not let go of our dream.” The manager’s candid assessment suggests a cautious approach to player workload as England prepares for the next competitive phase.

Manchester United Women saw their Women's Champions League campaign end in the quarter‑finals after Bayern Munich scored two late goals to win 5‑3 on aggregate.The English side led for the first 70 minutes, thanks to Melvine Malard’s opener. However, Bayern’s relentless pressure produced a Glódís Viggósdóttir header and a Linda Dallmann half‑volley, sealing a comeback that left United stunned.United’s manager Marc Skinner lamented the impact of injuries, noting that eight first‑team players were unavailable. “If we had those players, I honestly think we could have gone through tonight,” he said, emphasizing the need for a squad with greater experience and depth.Skinner’s remarks came on the same day the Football Association disclosed that six WSL clubs spent more on agent fees than United in the year to February 2026, while United’s wage bill was reported to be only half that of Arsenal. The manager added, “We need to design the squad with that depth of experience in order to reach that stage… we’ll learn what investment is really needed.”Despite a spirited first half—United dominated possession, created several chances and kept the aggregate level at 3‑3—fatigue set in. Skinner observed, “Bayern rested seven players at the weekend, and it showed in the second half. Freshness was the key difference.”The defeat means United must finish in the top three of the Women’s Super League to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Currently fourth, they face challenging away fixtures against Tottenham and Chelsea, making their qualification hopes uncertain.

Arsenal successfully defended their Women's Champions League title hopes with a thrilling draw against Chelsea. The Gunners secured a 3-2 aggregate win, despite suffering a 1-0 loss in the second leg at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea's Sjoeke Nüsken scored a late goal, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 3-1 deficit from the first leg. The intense match saw Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor sent off shortly before the final whistle. Arsenal's victory ensures they will play the winner of the quarter-final between Lyon and Wolfsburg. The German side holds a 1-0 lead into the second leg. The match was marked by high tension and dramatic moments. Chelsea's Allyssa Thompson had a chance to score but hit the ball over the bar. Hannah Hampton made crucial saves for Chelsea, while Arsenal's Daphne van Domselaar also made key stops. Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius had a goal disallowed for offside, which could have sealed the tie. However, Chelsea pushed hard and Veerle Buurman hit the post in the dying minutes. Nüsken's late strike gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope, but ultimately, Arsenal's lead held, securing their place in the semi-finals and continuing their title defence.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has cast doubt on Phil Foden's place in the World Cup squad, citing concerns over his recent form. Foden, a key player for Manchester City, struggled to make an impact in friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.Tuchel gave Foden opportunities in the starting lineup during the international window but was left unimpressed. In the 1-1 draw against Uruguay and 1-0 defeat by Japan, Foden failed to make a significant impact.The manager faces tough decisions on which players to take to the World Cup, with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze also vying for spots. Foden's recent struggles, including limited playing time for Manchester City, have raised questions about his readiness for the tournament.“Phil tried everything,” Tuchel said. “He was excellent in camp but struggled to show it on the pitch. He didn’t have a lot of minutes for City recently.”Tuchel emphasized that while he can take a struggling player to the World Cup, it's not a guarantee that Foden will be part of the squad. Foden's uncertain future with the national team adds to the challenges Tuchel faces in selecting his final squad.

Alisha Joyce stepped back onto the rugby field in March, just 123 days after delivering her son, and a week later secured a place in Wales’ squad for the upcoming Women’s Six Nations. The 28‑year‑old described the selection as a surprise, but welcomed the chance to inspire the next generation of players.Joyce is the first Welsh international to tap into the new performance maternity programme, a policy designed to support athletes through pregnancy and return to elite competition. She shares her newborn, Ralphie, with her wife and teammate Jasmine Joyce, and has logged only 30 minutes of senior rugby since her comeback, coming off the bench for Brython Thunder.Wales head coach Sean Lynn delivered the call‑up unexpectedly. Joyce said she hopes to contribute her experience to a squad that includes nine uncapped players, acknowledging her new role as one of the senior members and a mentor for younger teammates.Having missed last year’s Six Nations and World Cup due to pregnancy, Joyce now brings her son to the training camp, describing the first four‑and‑a‑half months of parenthood as “incredible” and a source of motivation.Sleep deprivation posed a major challenge, especially given the importance of recovery in elite sport. Joyce noted that after the initial three months of erratic nights, Ralphie’s routine has settled, allowing her to focus more on training and performance.She cited teammate Abbie Ward—the first England player to have a baby while under a professional contract—as a key influence in deciding to continue her career after motherhood. Joyce reflected on the broader dilemma many athletes face: balancing the desire for a family with the timing of major tournaments and potential Lions selection.Both Joyce and Jasmine underwent IVF, a process that required careful planning and preparation. Joyce called the decision to pursue parenthood “one of the best” they’ve made, emphasizing how quickly life can change when a child is involved.Looking ahead, Joyce aims to earn playing time in the Six Nations, which kicks off against Scotland on 11 April, and has set her sights on the inaugural women’s British & Irish Lions tour in 2027. She hopes her journey shows young girls that they can excel in sport while being mothers, and she remains determined to return to top form.