North Korea warns it could destroy South if security threatened, but leaves door open for dialogue with US
Source link
Eagles at the Grand Ole Opry in October 2017
North Korea warns it could destroy South if security threatened, but leaves door open for dialogue with US
DOJ reviews whether any Epstein-related records were mistakenly withheld
The Justice Department said Wednesday that it was looking into whether it had improperly withheld documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files after several news organizations reported that some records involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump were not among those released to the public.The announcement followed news reports saying that a massive tranche of records released by the Justice Department did not include several summaries of interviews that the FBI conducted with an unidentified woman who came forward after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by both Trump and Epstein when she was a minor in the 1980s.“Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing,” the Justice Department said in a post on X. “As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production.” Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant, is serving a 20-year prison sentence on a sex trafficking conviction.It said that if any document is found to have been improperly withheld and is responsive to the federally enacted law mandating the files’ release, “the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law.”At issue is a series of interviews said to have been conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. News reports from recent days say the accuser was interviewed by the FBI four times as it sought to assess her account, but a summary of only one of those interviews was included in the publicly released files.The missing records were earlier reported by the journalist Roger Sollenberger on Substack and NPR, and have since been documented by other news organizations, including The New York Times, MS Now, and CNN.Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement that Democrats on the panel would investigate the withheld records. He said he had reviewed unredacted evidence logs and “can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews” with the accuser.The Justice Department last month said it was releasing more than 3 million pages of records related to Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The department said at the time that, though it was attempting to be transparent, it was also entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicates, or protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation.“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the department said in a statement last month as it released the records.The redaction process was quickly revealed to have been flawed, with the department withdrawing some materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with a “substantial number” of documents identified independently by the government.Lawyers for Epstein accusers told a New York judge this month that the lives of nearly 100 victims had been “turned upside down” by sloppy redactions in the government’s latest release of records. The exposed materials include nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses, and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.Other uncorroborated claims against Trump and other public figures were included in the publicly available files. The department did not say in its social media post Wednesday why records related to this specific accusation might have been withheld.
WASHINGTON —
The Justice Department said Wednesday that it was looking into whether it had improperly withheld documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files after several news organizations reported that some records involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump were not among those released to the public.
The announcement followed news reports saying that a massive tranche of records released by the Justice Department did not include several summaries of interviews that the FBI conducted with an unidentified woman who came forward after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by both Trump and Epstein when she was a minor in the 1980s.
“Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing,” the Justice Department said in a post on X. “As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production.” Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidant, is serving a 20-year prison sentence on a sex trafficking conviction.
It said that if any document is found to have been improperly withheld and is responsive to the federally enacted law mandating the files’ release, “the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law.”
At issue is a series of interviews said to have been conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. News reports from recent days say the accuser was interviewed by the FBI four times as it sought to assess her account, but a summary of only one of those interviews was included in the publicly released files.
The missing records were earlier reported by the journalist Roger Sollenberger on Substack and NPR, and have since been documented by other news organizations, including The New York Times, MS Now, and CNN.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement that Democrats on the panel would investigate the withheld records. He said he had reviewed unredacted evidence logs and “can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews” with the accuser.
The Justice Department last month said it was releasing more than 3 million pages of records related to Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The department said at the time that, though it was attempting to be transparent, it was also entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicates, or protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation.
“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the department said in a statement last month as it released the records.
The redaction process was quickly revealed to have been flawed, with the department withdrawing some materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with a “substantial number” of documents identified independently by the government.
Lawyers for Epstein accusers told a New York judge this month that the lives of nearly 100 victims had been “turned upside down” by sloppy redactions in the government’s latest release of records. The exposed materials include nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses, and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured.
Other uncorroborated claims against Trump and other public figures were included in the publicly available files. The department did not say in its social media post Wednesday why records related to this specific accusation might have been withheld.
DEAD KENNEDYS Will Play Punk In The Park Dates Despite Politics, JELLO BIAFRA Slams Them For Taking The Money
Dead Kennedys have confirmed they will fulfill their 2026 Punk in the Park dates in Pittsburgh and Vallejo, even after controversy surrounding the festival’s owner, Cameron Collins of Brew Ha Ha Productions, who donated to Donald Trump‘s 2024 campaign. The band, however, made it clear they will not play future editions.
In a statement, Dead Kennedys said: “We’ve become aware that the owner of Brew Ha Ha Productions, the company behind Punk In The Park, made financial contributions in support of the Trump administration. Our first reaction was to cancel our upcoming appearances.
“However, we do not feel it would be fair to our supporters who have already purchased tickets & made plans to attend these shows. Dead Kennedys have always stood firmly against authoritarianism, racism, and fascism. That has not changed. After these scheduled appearances, we will not be participating in future Punk In The Park events.”
The festival’s political controversy has previously caused bands like Destiny Bond to withdraw, while Dropkick Murphys severed ties entirely. Collins defended himself, saying his views “don’t neatly fit into a single box or party affiliation” and confirmed the fest’s return with three 2026 dates: April 18 in Pittsburgh, May 2 in Orlando, and May 23 in Vallejo.
Former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra, who left the band in 1986, criticized the current lineup in a statement to Stereogum: “They’re taking the money $$$, and THEN pulling out? The real Dead Kennedys would never have let this happen in the first place. One more sordid reason I don’t ever want to play with them again.”
Led by original members East Bay Ray and Klaus Flouride, Dead Kennedys continue to operate as a legacy touring act, navigating both their historic punk ethos and modern controversies.
Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter
Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.
Engie to Buy UK Power Networks for $14.2 Billion From Hong Kong’s CK Group
France’s Engie will acquire UK Power Networks for 10.5 billion pounds in equity value, equivalent to about $14.2 billion, from Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s CK Group.
Source link
Suns owner Mat Ishbia offers $1 million to 2027 All-Star 3-point, dunk winners
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has a plan to help improve the star quotient when his team hosts the NBA‘s All-Star weekend in 2027, and it’s a proposal that comes with a big financial boost.
Ishbia joined The Pat McAfee Show at the NFL combine Wednesday, during which McAfee announced Ishbia’s idea: $1 million dollars to the winner and $1 million dollars to charity of the winner’s choice for both the dunk contest and the 3-point contest.
“Let’s get the best guys in it,” Ishbia said. “Let’s make it awesome.”
Though the idea may sound intriguing, it’s not as simple as Ishbia and McAfee presented it. Officials from the NBA league office and the players’ union told ESPN adding prize money would not conform to the existing bonus structure. Ishbia has not consulted the league office.
The 3-point contest hasn’t had as many issues getting stars to participate as the dunk contest has. Damian Lillard won this year’s 3-point contest — his third such title — and prior winners include Stephen Curry (twice), Klay Thompson and Karl-Anthony Towns. This year, Lillard defeated several other big names, including Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey and Donovan Mitchell. Curry has already committed to participating in this event next year.
The dunk contest, however, has been a different story. Keshad Johnson, who is averaging about seven minutes per game this year for the Miami Heat, won the event over Carter Bryant, Jaxson Hayes and Jase Richardson, none of whom average more than seven points per game. The last player to win the dunk contest the same year he was an All-Star was former Clipper Blake Griffin, who jumped over a car in 2011.
Trump said Iran will ‘soon’ have missiles able to hit the U.S. A 2025 intel report said it will take 10 years.
In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Donald Trump seemed to offer another rationale for possible military action against Iran, saying it was working to develop missiles that could “soon” be able to strike the U.S.
“They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” he said.
It was the first time the president or any other U.S. official has portrayed Iran as poised to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. Until now, U.S. intelligence agencies and European governments have said Iran could eventually build an ICBM under the cover of its military space program if it chose to.
But U.S. intelligence and military commanders have not publicly warned of an imminent threat due to a possible ICBM program.
A Defense Intelligence Agency report released last year said Iran “has space launch vehicles it could use to develop a militarily-viable ICBM by 2035 should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”
A U.S. official told NBC News that Iran has been building toward an ICBM for years and making advances but that there was no indication of dramatic new progress.
It was not clear whether Trump’s comments Tuesday reflected the U.S. government’s having determined that Iran had, in fact, decided to pursue an ICBM or whether Tehran could now achieve that capability more quickly than had previously been assessed.
Asked how close Iran was to developing ICBM capability, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: “I won’t speculate as to how far away they are, but they are certainly trying to achieve — and this is not new — they’re trying to achieve intercontinental ballistic missiles.
“For example, you’ve seen them try to launch satellites into space,” Rubio added during a trip to the Caribbean. “You’ve seen them … increasing the range of the missiles they have now, and clearly they are headed in the pathway to one day being able to develop weapons that could reach the continental U.S.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said, “President Trump is absolutely right to highlight the grave concern posed by Iran, a country that chants ‘death to America,’ possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
Iran has denied it has an ICBM program, and Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Trump’s speech Tuesday was full of “big lies.”
Iran’s U.N. mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, which was bombed during a 12-day war with Israel in June, includes medium-range missiles that can travel 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers, or 621 to 1,864 miles. Those weapons would allow Iran to strike targets across the Middle East and parts of Europe.
Forecasting timelines for missile or nuclear weapons programs always poses a challenge for analysts in and outside the government, and experts disagree about how long it might take for Iran to develop an intercontinental missile.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the nonprofit Arms Control Association, said he believes Trump’s comments about Iran’s potential pursuit of an intercontinental missile amounted to “an exaggeration.”
“Iran has ballistic missiles that can reach targets in the region,” Kimball said. “They don’t have an intercontinental ballistic missile capability, and even if they did, they don’t have a nuclear weapon to put on top that system.
“Trump seems to be seeking to exaggerate the threat posed by Iran, both in terms of the scope and the imminence,” he added.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, said it was unclear exactly how far along Iran could be toward building an ICBM. But he said Tehran has redoubled its efforts to expand its missile program, including a potential intercontinental weapon.
“Despite the setbacks imposed on the regime’s missile program through sabotage, sanctions and strikes, it continues to move ahead, even with one arm tied behind its back,” Taleblu said.
Iran renewed testing of space launch vehicles after its air war with Israel in June, Taleblu said. “Iran’s testing of at least two space launch vehicles after the 12-day war should ring the alarm bell about the regime’s intentions here,” he said.
In an interview in October with Ben Shapiro, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran is developing long-range missiles that could place U.S. cities in danger.
“Iran can blackmail any American city,” Netanyahu said. “People don’t believe it. Iran is developing intercontinental missiles with a range of 8,000 kilometers; add another 3,000 and they can get to the East Coast of the U.S.”
Experts say that Iran is able to take advantage of the technical overlap between satellite launch vehicles and ballistic missile systems and that its investments in propulsion and guidance systems could pave the way to an ICBM.
U.S. intelligence agencies have warned for decades that Iran could use its military space program to build intercontinental missiles and predicted Tehran would master the technological challenge rapidly. A 1999 U.S. intelligence estimate said Iran could flight-test an ICBM that could threaten the U.S. by 2010.
In a 2024 assessment of global threats released publicly, U.S. intelligence agencies said Iran’s work on space launch vehicles could shorten the timeline to produce an ICBM if Tehran opted to develop one.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany accused Iran in a joint report in 2024 of using space launch vehicles — which put satellites into orbit — as a cover to test technologies related to ICBMs.
Controversy ignites over federal permit given to ranchers to kill Mexican Wolves
CATRON COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – It’s continued for decades as one of the best-known western conservation efforts: bringing Mexican Wolf populations back from the brink. However, a federal permit is sparking controversy for allowing some ranchers in southwest New Mexico to kill a wolf. “The more wolves you have, the more problems you are going […]
Source link
Eagles Add New Dates to 2026 Tour Plans
Eagles are continuing to map out their future touring plans as the band’s ongoing residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas approaches its planned conclusion at the end of April.
What New Shows Have the Eagles Added?
The classic rock legends revealed three new shows have been added to their ongoing tour, under the banner of The Long Goodbye: Act III.
Tedeschi Trucks Band will support all three of the new dates, starting May 5 in Atlanta. The concerts will go on sale Friday, Mar. 6. You can see all of the current tour information below.
The group is also set to appear at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 2. It’s all part of a series of ongoing road work that began officially in September of 2023 when they launched their farewell tour, The Long Goodbye.
READ MORE: Eagles Begin Farewell Tour in New York City
Announced earlier that same year, the band noted that after a “miraculous 52-year odyssey,” they were starting to make plans to officially wind things down. But they told fans it would indeed be, as the tour name indicates, a long goodbye.
“We know how fortunate we are, and we are truly grateful. Our long run has lasted far longer than any of us ever dreamed,” they said in a statement at that time. “But, everything has its time, and the time has come for us to close the circle. The official farewell tour is currently in the planning stages.”
“We want to give all our fans a chance to see us on this final round. So, scheduling information will be released as dates are set,” they continued. “The difficulties of booking venues for multiple nights may require us to return to certain cities, depending on demand. But, we hope to see as many of you as we can, before we finish up.”
Joe Walsh Recently Missed His First Eagles Concert in Over 50 Years
The colorful guitarist and vocalist had a reputation for mischief and good-natured troublemaking in the earlier days of his career, but as a recent incident revealed, Joe Walsh has been very reliable when it comes to showing up for work.
After bravely soldiering through the previous night, Walsh was forced to sit out the Eagles’ Jan. 24 Sphere concert due to a bout with the flu. It was the first time he’d missed performing with the group since joining the ranks in December of 1975.
READ MORE: How Joe Walsh’s Arrival Transformed the Eagles
Thankfully, he was back in action by the following weekend’s shows. “I’m grateful to the doctors in Las Vegas and Los Angeles [who] put their heads together and got it figured out,” he told the crowd, adding a humorous anecdote to accompany his initial comments.
“I want to tell you about how great AI is,” he continued. “About 10 days ago, AI came out with this long, drawn out story that said nothing. And they announced that I was dead. I’m not dead!”
“Well, here’s the dumb part,” he shared, as the crowd laughed. “I had friends and people calling me up to ask if I was dead?”
Life in 2026, you can’t make this stuff up, right? The veteran rocker closed his speech to the fans with a poignant note, dedicating the next song, his signature “Life’s Been Good” to Grateful Dead legend Bob Weir, who died in early January.
READ MORE: 5 Stunning Moments From Eagles’ Sphere Residency Opening Night
Eagles, 2026 Tour Dates
2/27 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
2/28 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
3/20 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
3/21 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
3/27 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
3/28 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
4/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
4/11 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Sphere
5/2 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
5/5 – Atlanta, GA @ Truist Park
5/9 – Nashville, TN @ FirstBank Stadium
5/16 – Arlington, TX @ Globe Life Field
The Best (and Worst) Solo Album by Every Member of the Eagles
In most cases, there weren’t many. So every new LP tended to carry a little extra weight.
Gallery Credit: Nick DeRiso
Washington Post Losses Topped $100 Million in 2025
The paper, known in part for its coverage of the Watergate scandal and the Pentagon Papers, has struggled to find a sustainable business model.
Source link
UCL talking points: Madrid, PSG or Italian football — who is worse off?
-
Sam Tighe
Close
Sam Tighe
ESPN
- Sam is a writer, broadcaster and podcaster for ESPN. He will write on the Premier League, scouting and transfers.
-
Mark Ogden
Close
Mark Ogden
Senior Writer, ESPN FC
-
Gab Marcotti
Close
Gab Marcotti
Senior Writer, ESPN FC
Multiple Authors
The knockout playoff round of UEFA Champions League concluded this week and, ahead of Friday’s draw for the last 16, we have A LOT to talk about.
Seventeen goals and three red cards in four games capped an absolutely chaotic night on Wednesday, with Galatasaray edging Juventus in extra time, Borussia Dortmund conspiring to give up a two-goal lead to Atalanta, and Benfica giving the Bernabéu a scare before eventually succumbing to Real Madrid.
The evening prior, Bodø/Glimt‘s fairytale continued with a comprehensive 5-2 aggregate win over Internazionale, while Atlético Madrid and Newcastle United made light work of Club Brugge and FK Qarabag, respectively.
ESPN FC writers Mark Ogden, Sam Tighe, Julien Laurens and Gab Marcotti break down the action as it happened as we look ahead to the Round of 16.
– UCL as it happened: Gala’s extra-time win over Juve caps chaotic day
– Kirkland: Viní Jr. brings star power, but worries abound for Real Madrid
– O’Halloran: The secret behind Bodø/Glimt’s European success
Q1. Real Madrid defeated Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 3-1 on aggregate, but were hardly convincing. Is winning while playing badly a sign of a champion team? Or are Los Blancos going to come undone in the Champions League sooner rather than later?
Marcotti: I feel like I’m repeating myself here. Real Madrid CAN win the Champions League (and LaLiga too for that matter) because they have a shutdown keeper in Thibaut Courtois and a consummate goal-scorer in Kylian Mbappé. And if you set up your team to basically defend (with Courtois as insurance) while you wait for one of the front two to do something special, it just might work, because they’re that good. But, no, you won’t look convincing doing it. It’s hard to see how any coach can make this poorly assorted group look convincing (Xabi Alonso might have had a shot, but we know how that ended), let alone Alvaro Arbeloa. It’s the nature of football right now. The top teams have so much talent they don’t actually need to “look convincing” to win games.
Laurens: I disagree with Gab and I hope I am wrong as I want Mbappé to win the Champions League, but I really don’t believe this version of Real Madrid can win the competition this season with this manager and this squad. I have rarely seen them actually dominating in every aspect of a game. There is always something missing, and to win the Champions League, even in an average season like this one, you need to be able to play with nothing missing. You have the best keeper in the world in Courtois, the best striker in the world in Mbappé, and one of the best wingers in the world in Vinícius Júnior but, collectively, the whole structure is flawed.
1:52
Burley: Real Madrid don’t look like they can win the Champions League
Craig Burley assesses Real Madrid’s Champions League hopes after their second leg playoff win over Benfica.
Tighe: I’ve seen Real Madrid play extremely poorly a number of times this season, but that often hasn’t stopped them winning. As Gab notes, that’s the way of things when you have elite players in key positions. But at no point have I felt like Madrid’s individual quality and natural affinity with this tournament can override the fact that several other teams look streets ahead of them, and so therefore Los Blancos must be considered a long shot to win it all.
This latest performance — a 2-1 home victory over Benfica — changed nothing. Despite the win, Madrid were terrible. Lackadaisical passing, endless turnovers … they ran it fine. Benfica threatened consistently, scored and hit the bar. Put Arbeloa’s team against a genuinely excellent side — one that finished in the top four of the league phase — and let’s see what happens.
Ogden: I’m torn on this one because I think Madrid’s midfield will let them down against a really top team, but then I don’t think there is a really top team in the competition this season. Every other big team has flaws that Real could punish because they have lethal forwards in Mbappé, Vinícius and Jude Bellingham who can — fitness permitting — always pop up and score a big goal. And Gab is right about Courtois. He’s the best goalkeeper in the world, so when you have the best keeper and the best forward — Mbappé — then of course you can win it. It will all come down to Real Madrid blowing hot or cold, but worse teams than this one have won the Champions League.
Q2. AS Monaco pushed Paris Saint-Germain all the way in their tie, with Les Parisiens eventually winning 5-4 on aggregate. Do the defending champions have enough in the tank to go back-to-back?
Laurens: I am afraid not and I am at peace with it. I would have loved my Parisians to go back-to-back but there is a reason why only two clubs have done it since the late 80s, AC Milan and Real Madrid. It is bloody hard to do. This PSG squad reached their heavenly peak last season with four extraordinary months that saw them beating half of the Premier League and demolishing Inter Milan in the final. All the planets aligned at the right time and they won’t go through this again, not just this season but probably never again period. For now, they are still in this and will face Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16. It could all stop there, especially if they play the Catalans. But it could also last a bit longer with a fit Ousmane Dembélé, a fit Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha in better form (can we also have Gianluigi Donnarumma back please?). But all the way again? Not this year.
Marcotti: PSG have lost six games this season in all competitions. Last year, despite their slow start, they had lost three. That said, four of those six losses were against French clubs, and there aren’t any left in the competition. (The other two were against Bayern Munich and Sporting CP, when they were very unlucky). So I’m not writing them off. I suspect Juls is being unduly hard on his team. They’re a young side, full of energy and, compared to last season, they have another year’s experience. On the flipside, they downgraded their keeper (sometimes I think Donnarumma on his own is better than Matvey Safonov AND Lucas Chevalier standing in the goalmouth at the same time). Yeah, repeating is tough, but no reason to write them off.
1:26
Moreno: PSG could get exposed in Champions League knockouts
Alejandro Moreno reacts to PSG’s progression to the Champions League knockouts after a 5-4 aggregate win over Monaco.
Ogden: I was in Paris for the second-leg against Monaco and I was struck by how flat PSG were. The atmosphere in the Parc des Princes was also unusually quiet. Maybe everybody is just worn out by the last 12 months? The mental toll of having to defend a title is hard enough, but PSG also played on until mid-July in the Club World Cup, so it’s no surprise they look shot to pieces. I don’t see them beating Barcelona in the next round and I reckon it’s 50-50 against Chelsea. A year ago, PSG were like a tornado ripping through the competition, but all of that energy has gone and there’s no way that they will win it again this season.
Tighe: PSG have fallen so far, it’s so disappointing. There are obvious reasons for it — injury pile-ups and the loss of a star goalkeeper, as the guys have mentioned — but it perhaps also proves how hard it is to maintain a remarkable level for any longer than half a year. With that in mind, I tip my hat to Pep Guardiola, who kept his Barcelona and Manchester City sides ticking at an absurd rate for much, much longer. It’s hard to see Les Parisiens vaulting back into the conversation from here.
Q3. Bodø/Glimt are the story of the 2025-26 Champions League; making it further than any Norwegian team ever, racking up impressive wins over Atlético, Man City and Inter (twice) along the way. How far can this fairytale go? And does their performance give hope to those clubs outside Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to this competition?
Ogden: I think this all depends on Friday’s draw and whether Bodø avoid Manchester City and face Sporting CP instead. I know Bodø hammered City — yes, it was a hammering — when they beat them 3-1 in Norway last month, but I just can’t see lightning striking twice against Guardiola’s team. Bodø could win again at home, but City will have learned their lessons from their trip to the Arctic Circle and, with the second leg at the Etihad, you would expect the Premier League side to win comfortably.
Sporting, though, would be a different matter. Bodø have beaten City and won away against Atlético Madrid and Inter, so the team from Portugal will not hold any fears for Kjetil Knutsen and his players. And yes, every team outside the big leagues can take inspiration from Bodø. If you’re organised, recruit well, and have a smart coach you can beat the top teams.
Laurens: I agree with Oggy. Give Bodø/Glimt a date with Sporting, and they’ll be in the quarterfinals. However, if they face Guardiola’s side, they will have their midweeks free again; Bodø can’t beat Manchester City over two legs.
The most fascinating thing in this whole Arctic Circle fairytale is that they didn’t win any of their first six games in the league phase. Then they beat City and Atlético and miraculously made it into the top 24. There is so much to take away from the Norwegians’ success in terms of organisation, culture, investment and intensity.
1:32
Klinsmann: Inter exit to Bodø/Glimt ‘hugely embarrassing’
Jurgen Klinsmann brands Inter’s Champions League exit at the hands of Bodø/Glimt as a “catastrophe” for the Serie A leaders.
Marcotti: The thing about Bodø is that they’re high risk/high reward. They have to be, because they’re up against far better resourced opponents. They play with a ton of energy, they move like clockwork, and they’re unafraid. That shocks bigger teams, which is part of the reason they do so well. And mentally, they’re super-strong too: witness how they hadn’t actually won until the last few rounds of the group stage, but still showed their resilience. Then there’s the plastic pitch, the Arctic Circle and all that jazz, which helps too.
I think they can shock anybody, but equally, they need a lot of things to go their way (like they did in the first leg against Inter). Let’s just call them the most unpredictable team left in the competition.
Tighe: The best thing about this Bodø/Glimt squad is that many of their key protagonists are basically misfits — they moved to Europe’s top leagues, couldn’t cut it and ended up in the Arctic Circle, rehabbing their career. Forward Jens Petter Hauge failed at AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt; Patrick Berg made a big move to Lens, but was sent back within the year; Kasper Høgh — the guy who can’t stop scoring and assisting — is on his sixth Scandinavian club by age 25.
These players not only find themselves in the perfect environment, but they all feel like they have something to prove to the world. That’s a dangerous combination that knows no limit.
Q4. Juve were sent packing by Galatasaray, Inter were dismantled by Bodø, and Atalanta squeaked past a Dortmund side that clearly has an appetite for self-destruction. Oh and Napoli didn’t even make the knockout rounds! With the national team staring down the barrel of a playoff to even qualify for the (expanded) World Cup, should we be worried about the state of Italian soccer?
Laurens: Even Gab can be wrong sometimes! Before the start of Tuesday’s games, he told us: “Don’t worry, Inter and Atalanta will be fine…” Sadly if you are a Nerazzurri fan, you are not fine. Atalanta, seventh in Serie A, on their second manager of the season and who lost their best player, Ademola Lookman, in the January transfer window, are saving Italian football from total embarrassment. And it is not a surprise.
We watch Serie A every weekend: it’s the league with the most 0-0 draws (by far) this season amongst the big five leagues, the league with the least intensity (apart from Como and, to a lesser degree, Atalanta) amongst the big five leagues, the league where 40-year-old Luka Modric is one of the best players this season. And I could go on, too…
In 2023, Serie A had a finalist in each of the three European competitions. The Italians lost them all and, three years later, even those “successes” feel like a distant memory.
Tighe: There’s no doubt that certain members of Italy’s traditional top order feel weak right now. You only have to scroll back a handful of years to remember AC Milan and Inter duelling in a Champions League semifinal! Less than 10 years ago, Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo for €100 million as they sought to take the final step and win this competition. But now? Several traditional Serie A big guns appear to lack that presence at Europe’s top table.
That said, there must be some room for nuance here. Knockout tournaments are by nature quite random, something Inter can clearly attest to. They put up 2.29 xG in their 2-1 second-leg loss to Bodø/Glimt after smacking the woodwork several times in the first leg. It’s football, sometimes things go wrong. Add that to Napoli’s injury issues (and the fact they’re managed by Antonio Conte, who habitually struggles in Europe) and it’s worth considering whether some of this is just … circumstantial.
2:22
Leboeuf & Marcotti clash over late penalty decision for Atalanta
Frank Leboeuf and Gab Marcotti discuss the penalty decision that sent Atalanta to the Champions League knockouts.
Ogden: Italian football seems to be frozen in time. The national team is facing the prospect of missing a third successive World Cup and, even if they qualify, the lack of quality in Gennaro Gattuso’s squad means they will do well to reach the knockout stages from there. Former Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero spoke earlier this week about a lack of investment in stadia by the top Italian clubs and a talent drain that has seen the best Italian youngsters playing for clubs outside of Italy. He also mentioned the comfort zone that sees the major clubs trade players between themselves rather than look to global markets.
It’s amazing to think that, since Inter won the Champions League in 2010, only two European trophies have been won by Italian clubs: AS Roma (UEFA Conference League, 2022) and Atalanta (UEFA Europa League, 2024). The top players don’t play in Italy anymore and that’s ultimately why their clubs are failing in the Champions League.
Marcotti: OK, I’ll bite. Juls, a distant memory? Serie A has sent as many teams to the Champions League final in the last four years as the Premier League. Serie A has many problems — one of the biggest is folks (like Oggy) comparing them to the past when, between 1985 and 2000ish, they routinely acquired the world’s best players and dominated the game. The world has changed. European football is dominated by the same 10-12 super-clubs and for a variety of reasons, and Italy’s big clubs aren’t on a par with the super-clubs in Spain, or Bayern, or PSG. That’s essentially what we’re talking about here.
Beyond that, Oggy is right when he talks about complacency and horrendous leadership — less so about stadiums (they could use an upgrade, sure, but it’s not going to move the needle) and the national team (lack of talent isn’t the reason they’re in the playoffs). But let’s also be a little nuanced here.
Inter could have scored five in the first leg against Bodø, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. Nor would we be having it if Florian Wirtz hadn’t taken a dive in injury time, because they’d be in Round of 16. Atalanta — sorry guys, I know you planned this question when you thought they were going out — are seventh in Serie A and knocked out Dortmund, second in the Bundesliga. And they did it without their best midfielder and two starting strikers. So maybe take a chill pill here.
Q5. Now that the playoff round is complete, which match are you hoping gets drawn in Friday’s last 16?
Marcotti: I really don’t care, but since you’re asking nicely, Newcastle United vs. Barcelona would be fun and colorful. And also a distinct contrast in styles (Anthony Gordon against that high line … how about that?) Bayern’s Jonathan Tah against his old club, Bayer Leverkusen, would be fun too.
Laurens: You know me, I am a blockbuster guy. I don’t care that much about lovely fairytale stories and about getting as many smaller clubs in the later stages of the competition, so I want big games in the last 16. I want Atletico vs. Liverpool, Manchester City vs. Real Madrid, PSG vs. Chelsea, and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich.
The rest, especially Newcastle vs. Barcelona will be great to watch, like Atalanta vs. Arsenal, but all I ask of UEFA is that we get a ton of big club vs. big club matches in the next round!
2:17
Why is Woltemade playing out of position for Newcastle?
Craig Burley and Steve Nicol try to make sense of Newcastle using striker Nick Woltemade in a deeper role.
Ogden: I’m with Juls on this one. It feels like it’s taken forever to get to the games that matter in this season’s Champions League, but we’re finally here now, so let’s get as many heavyweights slugging it out against each other as possible.
But one tie that intrigues me is PSG vs. Chelsea/Barcelona because PSG are so difficult to gauge this season. Will they take revenge on Chelsea for beating them in the Club World Cup final, or will it be a resumption of their epic Champions League rivalry with Barça? Either way, PSG have two blockbuster games coming up.
Tighe: My one request to the draw gods is that they go easy on the all-domestic ties. The really fun part of the Champions League is watching teams who don’t play each other a minimum of twice a year lock horns, representing their nations’ reputations in the process.
So, with that in mind, Chelsea please avoid Newcastle, and Bayern please avoid Leverkusen. And if I’m on my best behaviour, can I please have PSG vs. Barcelona? It’ll be a sorry version of what last season’s final should have been — but I’ll take it all the same.