Football’s weekend: Inter’s fightback, England’s streak ends and Ratcliffe’s empire remarks

Inter Milan’s resilience tests Roma’s early-season promise

The Stadio Olimpico bore witness to one of Serie A’s most compelling narratives this weekend: the gulf between expectation and reality. Roma, under the stewardship of José Mourinho’s successor, had begun the season with three consecutive victories, their attacking verve—embodied by Manu Koné’s first-half brace—suggesting a return to the club’s more expansive traditions. Yet by full time, it was the visitors who left with a point, and the lingering sense that Inter Milan, even in transition, remain the team to beat.

Lautaro Martínez’s equaliser in the 87th minute was not merely a goal; it was a statement. For the second time in a week, Cristian Chivu’s side had overturned a two-goal deficit, a feat that speaks to the psychological edge that comes with being defending champions. The draw leaves both teams on seven points after three games, but the implications are starkly different. Roma’s early momentum has been checked, while Inter’s capacity to grind out results—even when not at their fluent best—reinforces their status as the league’s most resilient outfit.

The subplot, of course, is the man on the touchline. Roberto De Zerbi’s tenure at Tottenham Hotspur has begun with two draws and a defeat, a start that has already drawn comparisons to his predecessor, Antonio Conte. Yet where Conte’s Inter side often relied on sheer physicality, De Zerbi’s Inter were a team of ideas, even in adversity. Their ability to recover from setbacks may yet prove the defining characteristic of this Serie A campaign.

England’s rugby dominance meets its match in Canada

For the first time in nearly four years, the Red Roses did not leave the field as victors. England’s 26-26 draw with Canada at the WXV tournament in Exeter marks the end of a 39-game winning streak, a sequence that had come to define women’s rugby in the professional era. The result is not a collapse—England remain unbeaten in 40 Tests—but it is a moment of reckoning.

Canada, ranked fourth in the world, arrived with a game plan built on physicality and precision. Their forwards dominated the breakdown, and their backs exploited the space left by England’s occasional hesitancy. The hosts, meanwhile, relied on the individual brilliance of Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, whose two first-half tries kept them in the contest. Yet as the game wore on, it was England’s inability to convert pressure into points that proved costly. A late penalty attempt from the halfway line, which would have secured victory, drifted wide, leaving the hosts to reflect on a performance that was as much about mental fatigue as it was about tactical shortcomings.

The draw arrives at a pivotal moment for English rugby. The Red Roses have been the sport’s standard-bearers, their dominance a testament to the professionalisation of the women’s game. Yet as other nations close the gap, England’s challenge will be to evolve without losing the ruthlessness that has defined their era. For now, the streak is over. The question is whether this is a blip or the beginning of a new, more competitive chapter.

Manchester United’s ownership crisis deepens

The fallout from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s remarks about the British Empire has exposed a fracture within Manchester United’s fanbase that goes beyond football. The club’s Muslim Supporters’ Club (MUMSC) has called for the billionaire’s resignation, describing his comments as “completely unacceptable” after he told the BBC that the UK was “on the slide” from the days when it had “the greatest empire in the world.”

Ratcliffe’s words, delivered in an interview last week, have reignited debates about nostalgia, national identity, and the legacy of colonialism. For the MUMSC, the issue is not merely one of tone but of values. “His comments reflect a mindset that is incompatible with the inclusive ethos Manchester United should represent,” the group said in a statement. The call for his departure has gained traction among other supporter groups, though the Glazer family, United’s majority owners, have yet to respond.

The controversy arrives at a delicate moment for the club. Ratcliffe’s INEOS group acquired a 25% stake in United in February 2023, with a mandate to oversee football operations. His influence has been felt in the club’s transfer strategy, but his public persona has often been divisive. For some fans, his bluntness is a refreshing contrast to the Glazers’ perceived detachment; for others, it is a reminder of the disconnect between the club’s global brand and its local roots.

United’s next steps will be closely watched. The club has long prided itself on its multicultural identity, a legacy shaped by players like Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Marcus Rashford. Ratcliffe’s remarks have forced a reckoning: can a club built on diversity reconcile itself with an owner whose views on history sit uneasily with its modern identity?

Davis Cup: Great Britain’s next generation steps into the spotlight

The Copper Box Arena in London is a far cry from Wimbledon’s Centre Court, but for Arthur Fery, it was a stage no less significant. The 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at SW19 this summer, returned to competitive action in front of a home crowd for the first time since his breakthrough, leading Great Britain to a 2-0 lead over Ecuador in their Davis Cup qualifier.

Fery’s 7-5, 6-0 victory over Álvaro Guillén Meza was a masterclass in composure, a reminder of the depth of talent emerging in British men’s tennis. Yet the story of the tie may ultimately belong to Toby Samuel, a late replacement for the injured Cameron Norrie. Samuel’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Ecuador’s top-ranked player, Andrés Andrade, was a testament to the resilience of a player who had never before competed in a live Davis Cup rubber.

The results offer a glimpse into the future of British tennis. With Norrie and Dan Evans nearing the twilight of their careers, the next generation—led by Fery, Jack Draper, and now Samuel—is stepping forward. The challenge, as ever, will be consistency. Fery’s Wimbledon run was a highlight, but the Davis Cup is a different beast, demanding adaptability across surfaces and formats.

For now, though, the focus is on securing a place in the Davis Cup Finals. A victory over Ecuador would mark a significant step for a team in transition, and a rare bright spot in a year that has seen British tennis grappling with the post-Murray era. The Copper Box may not have the history of Wimbledon, but for Fery and Samuel, it could yet be the stage where their careers take flight.