Futsal, the fast-paced, small-sided version of indoor football, has grown into a truly global sport, played in over 100 countries and enjoyed by more than 30 million players worldwide, according to FIFA. Known for its emphasis on technical skill, agility, and quick decision-making, futsal has become an important platform for developing top-level talent. Major international tournaments, including the FIFA Futsal World Cup, continue to draw attention, highlighting the sport’s rising profile.

Azerbaijan has emerged as a key player in putting futsal on the international map. The country has a long-standing presence in European futsal, with the Azerbaijani Futsal Federation established in 1994. Since then, Azerbaijan has steadily developed its domestic league and national program, producing emerging talent and competing at the European level.

The national team is currently in Baku after securing two victories in friendly matches against Denmark. Training sessions leading up to the matches focused on tactical organization, defensive structure, and transitions — areas considered crucial against fast-paced European opponents. Team officials used the matches to assess form, refine strategies, and strengthen team cohesion.

Team captain Emin Kurdov emphasized the importance of the games for the national team. “The games against Denmark are important for the team’s full formation and for young players to gain experience. The national team has potential — it just needs some time,” Kurdov told local media. Although friendly matches do not carry competitive points, they provide a critical environment for testing line-ups, evaluating squad depth, and measuring players’ readiness under match conditions.

Denmark, a developing futsal nation, sought experience and exposure through the encounters. Despite their losses, the Danish side benefited from competing against a stronger opponent, with both teams using the matches to benchmark performance and maintain sharpness ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures, including World Cup qualification matches later this year.

Azerbaijan’s continued investment in futsal reflects a broader trend of growing interest in the sport worldwide. Its combination of skill, speed, and strategy has captured the imagination of players and fans alike, providing opportunities for emerging talent to shine on the international stage. As countries such as Azerbaijan strengthen their programs, futsal’s profile is set to rise even further in Europe and beyond.

The friendly matches against Denmark mark a significant step in Azerbaijan’s preparation for future tournaments and demonstrate the country’s commitment to maintaining its competitive presence in European futsal. With young players gaining experience and tactical cohesion improving, the national team is positioning itself as a rising force on the global futsal stage.

A sudden threat by former US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs to seize Greenland sent Europe scrambling to protect the transatlantic alliance. For five tense days, Trump warned he would apply a 10% tariff on eight NATO member states unless Denmark agreed to sell the semi-autonomous, mineral-rich island.

“This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland,” Trump wrote on social media, prompting widespread condemnation from European leaders defending Denmark’s sovereignty.

EU ambassadors met the following day to prepare for 1 February, when the tariffs were set to take effect. France took the lead, calling for the use of the Anti-Coercion Instrument, which allows retaliation across multiple economic sectors. Previously designed for China, the mechanism had never been used, even amid Trump’s 2025 trade negotiations, which divided EU member states.

“Plunging us into a dangerous downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of our strategic landscape,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Davos. “So our response will be unflinching, united and proportional.”

European capitals quickly prepared for potential retaliation, drafting a €93 billion list of countermeasures. The European Parliament also voted to indefinitely delay the ratification of the EU-US trade deal, blocking zero-tariff benefits for American products agreed in July.

Despite this display of unity, European leaders emphasized diplomacy as their preferred path. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, “We want to avoid any escalation in this dispute if at all possible. We simply want to try to resolve this problem together.” Finnish President Alexander Stubb described the effort as finding an “off-ramp” to prevent a full-blown clash while safeguarding Greenland.

Early diplomatic overtures faltered. Bilateral meetings with Trump at Davos failed to materialize, and leaks of texts, including one from French President Emmanuel Macron, highlighted the confusion. Trump’s statements at the World Economic Forum, in which he repeatedly referred to Greenland as “Iceland,” kept tensions high.

Yet his insistence that he did not plan to use military force opened a narrow window for negotiation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Trump in Davos to establish a “framework deal” enhancing security in Greenland and the Arctic. The agreement, details of which remain confidential, prompted Trump to abandon his tariff threat and territorial ambitions.

By the time EU leaders convened in Brussels for an emergency summit, the atmosphere had eased. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen later traveled to Nuuk to ensure Denmark and Greenland were included in the discussions.

“Everybody has drawn the conclusion that the relationship is on a different footing,” a senior EU official said, acknowledging the long-term implications of Trump’s actions. Macron praised Europe’s display of unity, while von der Leyen warned the episode underscored the need for a more independent Europe with diverse international partnerships.

While the immediate crisis passed, the Greenland episode left a lasting mark on transatlantic relations and Europe’s approach to US unpredictability.

It is an expensive gamble, but also an attempt at technological emancipation from the major programmes of the past, in which Italy has often played a subordinate role. In the coming weeks, Italy’s parliament will decide whether to commit substantial resources to the Global Combat Air Programme (Gcap), a joint effort with the United Kingdom and Japan to develop next-generation combat aircraft.

The aim of the Gcap is to create a sixth-generation air combat system by 2035, designed to gradually replace platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Mitsubishi F-2. The system will operate in complex warfare environments, with a strong emphasis on interoperability with allied forces. According to Italy’s Defence Multi-Year Planning Document, the country’s contribution to the programme is estimated at around €9 billion through 2035, with more than €600 million allocated for 2025 alone. The cost does not include future expenses for production or the operational lifecycle of the aircraft.

The Gcap marks a potential shift in Italy’s defence strategy. Previous programmes, such as the Eurofighter and F-35, left the country largely dependent on stronger partners, with limited access to key technologies. In contrast, the Gcap grants Italy equal participation, with a 33.3 percent share alongside the UK and Japan, allowing for greater technological and industrial returns. Unlike the F-35, which involved significant U.S.-controlled “black boxes” restricting local involvement, the Gcap is structured to provide Italian industries and institutions greater operational sovereignty.

The programme merges the British Tempest and Japanese FX projects, and will initially operate alongside Italy’s Eurofighters and F-35s before gradually assuming full operational responsibilities. It will also incorporate uncrewed combat air systems (UCAS) and auxiliary technologies, enhancing Italy’s capabilities in drone integration and advanced communication networks.

Experts highlight the programme’s strategic importance. “We need to equip ourselves looking ahead to the next 10, 20, 30 years to maintain deterrence against Russia and contain Chinese assertiveness,” said Alessandro Marrone, head of the Defence, Security and Space programme at the Istituto Affari Internazionali.

Despite strong political and industrial support, the Gcap faces challenges. High levels of classified information, supply chain integration across large industrial groups, SMEs, and start-ups, and the need for a steady pipeline of skilled engineers all present potential obstacles. Delays or fragmented funding could affect technology development and industrial returns, while international cooperation depends on clear export and component exchange rules.

The programme’s first phase, financed with €3.85 billion through 2026, focuses on developing and testing key technologies. The next phase, costing around €4.5 billion, will produce a demonstrator aircraft, with entry into service planned around 2040.

If approved, the Gcap could secure Italy a prominent role in the next generation of global combat aviation, marking a decisive step toward greater autonomy and technological leadership in defence.