CALGARY — Troy Stecher lives outside of a suitcase and inside of the moment.
You try bouncing between seven teams over 600-plus games as an undrafted, undersized late-bloomer. You try getting traded and waived and scratched and forever signing short-term deals for what might be your last stop if you dare ease the gas.
Guys like the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ blue line Little Engine That Could, they learn to get comfortable quickly in new surroundings.
And they’re smart and hungry enough to seize opportunities like Monday’s in Calgary — with minute muncher and offensive blueliner Morgan Rielly sidelined.
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Funny, Rielly was the Vancouver-bred D-man who was always going to make it. The sure thing with the sweet stride and gaudy stats.
Troy from Richmond was just another ’94 born, just trying to chase Rielly’s rep in Western Canadian minor hockey, then his path to the show.
Funny. You get to a game like this, with Stecher eating some of Rielly’s minutes, and he gets a shot at 4-on-4 and finishes off a play generated by Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Funny. One teammate is locked into 2030 with a full no-move clause. The other is living every game out of a hotel, home and away, and has no certainty where he’ll end this season or start the next.
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Funny. Stecher scores a nifty game-winner in a tight 4-2 victory for the Maple Leafs in Calgary, their first regulation win since Jan. 10.
And, so far, the Maple Leafs are 2-0 in Stecher’s three-game revenge tour through Western Canada. They have a shot to run the table on the righty’s revenge rampage Tuesday in Edmonton.
“I’m a suitcase, obviously,” Stecher cracks, amid three trips back to homes that didn’t keep him.
“It’s unique. Like, going home to Vancouver — started my career there and thought I’d play my whole career there, and it changed. I’ve built relationships everywhere I went. I’ve enjoyed playing everywhere I went.
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“Like, I love being a Canuck. I love being a Flame. I love being an Oiler. And now I love being a Maple Leaf, and that’s where my pride and joy lies. But I’m not oblivious to the memories I have in the past, and very fortunate for those memories.”
If the Maple Leafs — who did lose in shots (30-22) and high-danger chances (14-5) to the rebuilding Flames — pull off the impossible, Stecher will be a core memory of this season.
They’ll also need more game-breaking performances by Calgary’s own William Nylander, whose converted breakaway on Toronto’s first shot was followed by a pair of primary assists.
“Seems like the puck is glued to his stick,” said linemate John Tavares.
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“I could just tell he was engaged right away,” coach Craig Berube added. “Skating. Winning all his puck battles. You know, offensive plays, offensive. I mean, he was dialed in.”
In addition to the winner, he led all Leafs with four shots, logged 20-plus minutes and helped kill the bulk of the game’s only power-play.
In a few hours, he’ll return to Edmonton to face a team that scratched him in favour of youth and eventually placed him on waivers.
“Yeah, I’m excited,” Stecher said. “A bunch of great relationships there, a lot of good memories. Never got the job completely done, but just going to war with those guys for as long as I did, I have a lot of respect for them.”
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Almost as much respect as Stecher has earned in the Maple Leafs’ room for his dogged and consistent effort.
“Thank God Edmonton let him go,” goaltender Joseph Woll said.
“He’s come in and just filled such a need for us. And what I love about him is, he’s just got a great competitive fire to him, and he’s just got energy,” John Tavares adds.
“He’s vocal and competes hard every shift. Lays it all out there and does a lot of little things well. And he has some good instincts to jump in when the opportunity is there.
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“Yeah, we talked about how it’s his western tour here. Finish it off the right way tomorrow.”
Go 3-0 on the Troy Stecher ’26 All-Canadian Reunion Tour, and maybe, just maybe, the defenceman who six teams gave up on isn’t the only longshot here with another life.
“I mean, the 23, 25 guys in that room, we have a belief — and that’s all that matters,” Stecher said.
“East is tight, man. Like, we got an important one tomorrow. You don’t want to look too far ahead, but I think we got, like, 18 games against our conference after the break.
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“So, there’s a lot of belief in that room, and a lot of hockey still to play.”
We counted. Stecher’s correct. Eighteen in-conference games left.
A guy who learns the odds might just be fit to break ’em.
• The Maple Leafs have the fewest power plays in the NHL (131).
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They haven’t seen a power-play in three of their past four games (although they did get a penalty shot in Vancouver).
Mikael Backlund punched Woll in the head Monday, and they got offsetting calls (Woll for holding the stick, Backlund for roughing).
Where’d the whistles go?
Tavares: “I’m not sure. I’m not sure. Just playing.”
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Berube: “I saw penalties out there tonight, and I saw a tripping penalty late in the third that wasn’t called….
“I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for that. I do, but I’m not going to tell you guys.”
• Inspired trade bait Nazem Kadri made quick work matching January’s goal total in February (one) and added a primary assist for good measure.
“It’s always fun to compete against your friends,” says the former Leaf, with a grin.
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Kadri wears a letter in Calgary and, even at age 35, is viewed as the Flames’ best player on many a night. The veteran reflected on his various mentors from his formative days in Toronto.
“Dion (Phaneuf), he’s up there. He’s still a good friend of mine to this day. Colton Orr. Patty Marleau. Guys like that. We had such a great group of vets who showed me the ropes,” Kadri said.
“I was a little raw when I first came in; I had a lot to learn myself. So, I’m happy I had those guys around.”
• Berube on goalie fights, the NHL’s new hotness: “I mean, why are they fighting? Why aren’t the players fighting? That’s the way I look at it. I don’t get it, to be honest with you.
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“I’d rather my goalies not fight. Guy pokes your goalie? One of the players should be doing something about it.”
• Congratulations to Oliver Ekman-Larsson and wife Maja, who are set to welcome their second child in March. Unfortunately, the defenceman will be heading solo to the Olympics while his family stays home.
“Sad and mixed feelings for them not to be able to go, but we know what’s coming,” he says. “It’s getting a little bit closer, and you gotta just be careful with wifey and the baby in the belly.”
• Berube hails from Calahoo, Alta. As player and coach, he’s been rolling through the Saddledome since it opened in the mid-1980s.
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Now, he sees the construction next door on the new barn, Scotia Place, well underway. It’s set to open in 2027-28.
“There’s a little bit of sadness,” says Berube, not sadly. “But it’s time. That’s what happens. It’s time. You gotta get the new rink going, so it’ll be great for the city and the team.”
Nigeria’s women’s national football team has arrived in Yaoundé ahead of their double-header friendly matches against Cameroon as preparations intensify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Head coach Justine Madugu, his technical crew, home-based players, and the foreign-based contingent all touched down in the Cameroonian capital as the team begins final preparations.
The Super Falcons will face the Indomitable Lionesses on 28 February, with the second friendly scheduled for 3 March.
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Both matches are tests ahead of WAFCON 2026 in Morocco, where Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia, and Egypt.
The friendlies provide the technical team an opportunity to assess the players, sharpen match fitness, and fine tune any tactical details before continental competition begins.
With WAFCON on the horizon, the build-up has officially started
Jeeno Thitiful feels grateful, sarcastically so. She’d just been reminded that in four previous appearances at this week’s HSBC Women’s World Championship, she didn’t finish outside the top 10, which was meant to be complimentary.
But Thitiful opted to see it another way.
“Thanks for the pressure,” she deadpanned, then added:
“No worries.”
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That drew smiles, and the symbolism was thicker than any course’s rough.
Pressure, it feels like, is everywhere for Thitikul. It was there at last week’s Honda LPGA Thailand event, Thitikul’s home event, a tournament she considers on par with any major when thinking of value. Then there are the majors themselves. She’s won everything — except one of those. There’s the pressure, too, of being ranked atop the world, because the world then tends to look your way.
And yet?
No worries. To cope, Thitikul said Tuesday she’s swearing by a four-word mantra. It’s a pressure deflator, much like using a touch of sarcasm, and the saying is this:
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Dance in the rain.
That’s deeper. That’s thoughtful. That’s played out over her pressure points.
How Jeeno Thitikul approached pressure during the Honda LPGA Thailand event
Tuesday, Thitiful said she was still a little short on sleep. Adrenaline will do that, and Sunday at the Honda LPGA Thailand, it was flowing. Still, she said she decided that no matter what happened, her home country fans were going to get a show.
“The nerves is always going to be there, but you have to beat the nerves,” she said. “Sometime you get more worried about the future, about what next shot I’m going to do.
“But I told myself, this is the time that you need joy with it, need joy with excitement, need joy with the nervous moments.
“That’s why I kind of try to dance in the rain.”
Then it’s off to the next week, and the chance to do it all over again.
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“I feel like you want just only that day, and then yesterday was like another new day that the trophy wasn’t there anymore,” Thitikul said. “It’s a new week, it’s a new journey, it’s new themes.”
How Jeeno Thitikul will approach pressure during her pursuit of a major win
The theme of Thitikul not yet winning a major has followed her — her best showing was a runner-up finish at last year’s Evian Championship. Still, her thought is: There are five chances this year. And five next year. And so on.
More dances.
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“Obviously when the pressure moment, when the nervous moment coming, you’re not going to get it every time,” Thitikul said. “… You have 10 times, you’re not going to get it 10 times. You’re obviously going to fall for sure.
“But I think the times that you fall, then you learn what the next time you’re going to do. But if you fall, that’s fine. Because you have the 11th time coming again.”
Thitikul also said she learned last week that she doesn’t need a “perfect 100 percent” game to win. In Thailand, she thought her iron play was well below that.
“So I think for the goals for the majors, for whatever, I think that’s kind of always going to be with me,” she said. “That obviously if I’m not a 100 percent of my game, but I have to show out there and be able to bounce back.”
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How Jeeno Thitikul will approach the pressure of being the world No. 1
Interestingly, Thitikul had been ranked No. 1 previously — for a week, after the 2022 Toto Japan Classic, when she was 19. Then, she said she put pressure on herself. But things have changed.
Thoughts have changed.
“It’s definitely different to my perspective of seeing things,” Thitikul said. “Seeing perspective of every way of seeing that because at that time, I think I was so young, and then I just put a lot of pressure on myself. I know a lot of people already had eyes on me and they are already expecting me. … At that time, I see things so serious. Even if I miss one shot, I felt that was bad.
“Right now, when I have a bad shot, it’s OK, you have another one. I think it’s more relaxing. It’s small thing to handle. But I just told myself, I really enjoyed it to be where I am right now and then I’m not going to be in this position forever. There’s going to be more top players coming up, but I want to perform and enjoy this position the best that I can.”
The PGA Florida Swing gets underway on Thursday with the 2026 Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches at the PGA National Champion Course. Coming off two Signature Events, the Cognizant Classic field is missing many big names, but it does feature past major winners such as Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, who is playing in his third event since rejoining the PGA this season.
The latest 2026 Cognizant Classic odds via FanDuel Sportsbook list Ryan Gerard and Shane Lowry as the +1600 co-favorites. Koepka is +3300 after missing the cut in his last prior event, the WM Phoenix Open. Before locking in any 2026 Cognizant Classic picks, or making any PGA DFS picks on sites like FanDuel or DraftKings, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as this year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
One major surprise the model is calling for at the Cognizant Classic 2026: Lowry, the co-favorite this week and the 2019 Open Championship winner, doesn’t even crack the top 3. He’s a golfer to fade this week. Lowry hasn’t won an individual event on the PGA Tour since that major championship, though he did team up with Rory McIlroy to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2024. Lowry finished T8 at Pebble Beach earlier this month, but that marked his first top-10 finish since May of 2025. See who else to fade here.
Another surprise: The model is extremely high on Daniel Berger as a +2700 longshot, saying he’s a top-six contender despite not being in the top 10 on the odds board. Berger struggled in his past two events, though he does have a pair of top-20 finishes this season — one at the Sony Open and another at the WM Phoenix Open. He has three top-five finishes at this event, which used to be known as the Honda Classic, including one in 2022. See who else to pick here.
Ryan Gerard +1600 Shane Lowry +1600 Nicolai Højgaard +1900 Rasmus Højgaard +2200 Michael Thorbjornsen +2200 Keith Mitchell +2700 Daniel Berger +2700 Max McGreevy +3300 Johnny Keefer +3300 Brooks Koepka +3300 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +3300 Will Zalatoris +3500 Aaron Rai +3500 Christiaan Bezuidenhout +3500 Haotong Li +3500 Alex Smalley +3500 Davis Thompson +3500 Richard Hoey +4000 Mac Meissner +4000 Thorbjørn Olesen +4000 Max Homa +4500 Kristoffer Reitan +4500 Michael Brennan +4500 Jordan Smith +4500 Chris Kirk +4500 Nico Echavarria +4500 Tom Kim +5000 John Parry +5500 Sami Valimaki +5500 Mackenzie Hughes +5500 Matt Wallace +5500 Ricky Castillo +5500 Seamus Power +6000 Garrick Higgo +6000 Stephan Jaeger +6000 Jesper Svensson +7000 Kevin Yu +7000 Eric Cole +7000 Zecheng Dou +7500 Doug Ghim +7500 David Ford +7500 Kris Ventura +7500 Billy Horschel +7500 Austin Eckroat +7500 Joel Dahmen +7500 Kevin Roy +7500 Gary Woodland +7500 Dan Brown +8000 Adrien Dumont de Chassart +8000 S.H. Kim +8000 Taylor Moore +8000 Luke Clanton +8000 Emiliano Grillo +8000 Vince Whaley +8000
South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis says Morocco’s investment in women’s football has raised the bar for the rest of the continent ahead of the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking after the South Africa women’s national football team defeated Angola 2-0 in the COSAFA Women’s Championship, Ellis admitted that winning the upcoming WAFCON will be tougher than it was in 2022.
“Morocco has got a two-tier professional league. They’ve obviously got the resources and a bottomless pit to be able to assist them with that,” she said.
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Rather than focus on what Morocco has, Ellis made it clear that South Africa’s response will come from within.
“We’ve got to look at other innovative ways to be able to do this and that is bringing these young players regularly into camp so that they can understand what it’s about.”
She referenced how she has previously trusted young players on the biggest stages.
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“We went to the World Cup in 2019 with a very young Sibulele and a very young Karabo at 17. We did likewise with Majiya. We took her to the WAFCON in 2022 that we won when she had just turned 18.”
For Ellis, exposing young talent early and surrounding them with experienced leaders remains key.
“What better way than to have the likes of Refiloe Jane and Bambanani Mbane here to be able to help those players develop and grow.”
With Morocco hosting again and determined to go one step further after back to back final defeats, Ellis knows the standard has risen, and other African countries must rise with it.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) wraps up Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during second-half action at U.S. Bank Stadium in a divisional matchup. The veteran interior lineman collapsed the pocket to finish the play as Minnesota’s defense pressured the passer throughout the contest. Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Hargrave records the sack at home. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The moment the Minnesota Vikings arrived at the NFL Combine, business heated up, with reports swirling and the team’s leaders reiterating the offseason direction. Along the way, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave officially entered the trade rumor mill, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Minnesota can listen while still keeping options open, especially with iDL depth.
The Vikings may not find a trade partner, but the club will do its diligence nevertheless.
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Hargrave Trade Talk Makes Sense for Minnesota
Trade rumors are formally here for the purple team.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave line up against the Chicago Bears during early-season action following their arrivals in 2025 free agency. Both veterans joined Minnesota on multi-year deals to reinforce the interior defensive line. Week 1, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Allen and Hargrave worked together up front against Chicago. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Schultz: Vikings Seeking Hargrave Trade
Hargrave is on the block in the NFL speak. Schultz tweeted Tuesday, “Sources: The Vikings have had trade talks with teams regarding 2x Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave. Hargrave started 15 games last year and had 3.5 sacks in his first season with Minnesota.”
NFL writer Logan Ulrich added, “A trade would be a preferable outcome for Minnesota if they can find a partner, as $3 million of his salary this upcoming year is guaranteed. Hargrave was still productive as a contributor, just not as much as the Vikings hoped.”
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“Hargrave was scheduled to make base salaries of $19.9 million and $21.65 million in the final two years of that deal when San Francisco reworked his contract. The team later released him with a post-June 1 designation ahead of the 2025 season.”
The veteran defender has been whispered as a cut or trade candidate for about two months. Now, the rubber has hit the road.
The Would-Be Compensation
Hargrave’s asking price is the underwhelming aspect. He turned 33 a couple of weeks ago and struggled as a run-stopper in 2025. The tweet from Schutlz implied that Minnesota could perhaps fetch something substantial via trade, but the reality suggests the Vikings might get a 7th-Rounder from a DT-needy team.
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That suitor would have to possess enough cap space to swallow the remainder of Hargrave’s contract and know it would be onboarding a decent interior defensive lineman, not a top-tier commodity.
The best-case scenario might be for interim general manager Rob Brzezinski to send Hargrave and a 7th-Rounder to a team for a 6th-Rounder. Commanding any better than a 6th-Round pick feels like extreme optimism.
Hargrave in 2025
Hargrave’s Pro Football Focus grades place him slightly above average, with a 70.0 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 run-stopping grade, ranking him 35th among interior defenders in 2025. Although he showed glimpses of playmaking, his run defense was inconsistent.
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His volume statistics agree. In 16 games and 537 defensive snaps (53%), Hargrave recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 31 pressures — ranking 34th among defensive tackles.
As teams head into free agency, Hargrave could be a solid, experienced option at defensive tackle. While he has performed at a Pro Bowl level in the past, his recent performance suggests he is now a more middle-of-the-road player.
Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (93) brings down Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) during first-quarter action at Lincoln Financial Field. The interior defender stepped into the lane quickly to finish the tackle near the line of scrimmage. Nov 1, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA: Hargrave stopped Elliott on an early rushing attempt. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports.
Fortunately, the team’s defensive tackle group is already in sweet shape. Jonathan Allen remains a reliable veteran under contract through 2026, providing consistency. Jalen Redmond, a top performer last year, appears ready to be a long-term starter once the Vikings re-sign him this offseason.
Furthermore, Levi Drake Rodriguez is improving as a run stopper and could start next season. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins contributed valuable snaps as a rookie, and Elijah Williams, an undrafted free agent, impressed during training camp and the preseason.
A Precursor to His Release?
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Of course, Schultz’s tweet could be posturing from the Vikings, leaking that Hargrave is available because the who’s who in the front office already knows he’ll be released if a trade partner cannot be found. It’s better for Minnesota to get a late-round draft pick and a team to absorb the remainder of his contract than to get nothing at all and be on the hook for $10.4 million.
On the other hand, if Hargrave is released — not traded — the Vikings will free up around $11 million in cap space to spend on another free agent or two. The savings and dead cap are basically a wash.
Two weeks ago, Bleacher Report suggested the Baltimore Ravens could be a trade destination for Hargrave.
Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Javon Hargrave reacts on the field during second-half action at U.S. Bank Stadium in a matchup with the Washington Commanders. The veteran lineman showed visible emotion after an interior defensive sequence as Minnesota battled in the trenches. Dec 7, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Hargrave responded following a key defensive series at home. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Minnesota could also replace Hargrave in the 2026 NFL Draft with relative ease if it prefers drafting a defensive tackle in Rounds 1 or 2. DTs like Caleb Banks (Florida), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Peter Woods (Clemson), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), and Christian Hunter (Georgia) are considered Top 50 picks two months out.
Other Vikings trade candidates might include Ivan Pace Jr. (LB), T.J. Hockenson (TE), Aaron Jones (RB), and perhaps even J.J. McCarthy if Minnesota finagles a deal for a top-tier quarterback.
Nov 13, 2025; Madrid, Spain; Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz at press conference at Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Free agent tight end Zach Ertz intends to play in 2026 and is expected to be cleared from his rehab following a torn ACL around the season opener, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.
Ertz, 35, is two months into his rehab after injuring his right knee during the Washington Commanders’ 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 7.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Ertz posted 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games (all starts) last season while playing on a one-year contract with the Commanders.
Ertz won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2017 season.
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His 825 career receptions are fifth all-time among tight ends, while his 8,592 yards rank eighth at the position.
Ertz has 57 touchdowns in 181 regular-season games (143 starts) with the Eagles (2013-21), Arizona Cardinals (2021-23) and Commanders.
Raducanu announced as UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador
Emma Raducanu has officially been unveiled as UNIQLO’s newest Global Brand Ambassador.
“Introducing Emma Raducanu, our newest Global Brand Ambassador and Britain’s top-ranked female tennis player. Emma will champion UNIQLO’s LifeWear philosophy, which is committed to pursuing excellence, making meaningful contributions to society, and empowering the next generation,” the brand shared on Instagram.
Raducanu rose to global prominence in 2021 when she made history by winning the US Open as a qualifier, becoming the first player in the Open Era to claim a Grand Slam singles title after coming through qualifying.
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In terms of titles, Raducanu has won:
1 Grand Slam singles title (US Open 2021)
Multiple ITF titles earlier in her career during her rise through the professional ranks
Despite injuries that have interrupted parts of her career since her breakthrough, she remains one of the most recognisable figures in women’s tennis and continues to attract major global partnerships.
The UNIQLO announcement adds another major brand to her portfolio as she continues her return to the top level of the tour.
This fairytale run to the knockouts will have felt unlikely for Bodo after failing to win their first six league phase games, meaning they were left needing results against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to qualify for the play-offs.
And, against the odds, they provided them.
A 3-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s men brought deserved attention and acclaim, but it was no one-off as Bodo overcame Atleti 2-1 in Madrid to claim a play-off spot.
Knutsen’s side lost to Spurs in the Europa League semi-finals last season, having become the first Norwegian side to reach the last four of a major European competition.
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Key to their success has often been their ability to make their home games as tough as possible.
In the north of Norway, Bodo can often be bitterly cold, snowy and windy during the long winter months, with temperatures deep into minus figures.
The difficult weather conditions mean the team play on an artificial pitch made of plastic, something many sides used to playing on grass find difficult to deal with.
Those aspects, coupled with the players’ determination and strong belief in their ability, means many have left Bodo defeated.
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They famously thrashed Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 at home in the Europa Conference League five years ago, while Celtic, Besiktas, Porto and Lazio have also been victims in recent years.
Manchester City won’t relish another meeting in the last 16 if they are drawn together, with Bodo buoyant after proving they have nothing to fear against Europe’s top sides.
“It’s amazing,” captain Patrick Berg told Canal+.
“For the club and city it’s unbelievable. I don’t think people thought we could beat Manchester City, Atletico and now Inter two times.
Inter signed Ronaldo and Vieri for world-record fees in the late 1990s, when Serie A was the envy of world football, blessed with the game’s most talented stars.
AC Milan then beat Juventus to win the Champions League in 2003, losing to Liverpool on penalties in the final two years later, before defeating the Reds to become European champions again in 2007.
While there have been more recent successes in Europe’s other competitions – Atalanta won the Europa League in 2024, Roma won the Conference League in 2021 – Jose Mourinho’s Inter were the last Italian side to win the Champions League in 2010.
Inter’s European exit comes despite being 10 points clear of rivals AC Milan in Serie A and a further four ahead of defending champions Napoli, who failed to make it out of the Champions League’s league phase.
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“It is a piece of history,” said journalist Vincenzo Credendino. “Speaking about Italy and Inter, this is one of the worst pieces.
“Inter are the best in Italy, but maybe it is time to think not about what can happen in one or two years, but about 10 or 15 years – and on that side we can see generally Italian football is not on the same level of top European leagues.”
The national team must also win through a play-off in March to avoid missing out on a third successive World Cup this summer, having last lifted the trophy in 2006.
“It is a difficult time for Italian football and this shows it,” added European football expert Julien Laurens on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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“Today, Inter Milan put pressure on but it was not enough from them. They have been the best team in Italy for the last few years. And Napoli as well, they haven’t even come close.
“It’s terrible for Italian football at the moment.”
Inter won five of their opening eight league phase games in Europe to finish 10th, with Juventus 13th and Atalanta 15th.
Yet in the play-offs, all have come unstuck against sides who finished lower in the table but play a more intense brand of football.
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“What does it say about Italian football? That something needs to be changed,” added Verri.
“The level of Italian football is poor. It is a structural issue. We play very slow football. You can ask any manager in Italy and they will all say the same.
“I was talking to Claudio Ranieri the other day and he said: ‘Look, when I was in England at Leicester… people don’t train more than in Italy. They just do it with another intensity, and then they keep up that intensity during the games.’
;)
