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Defector

Billy Haisley

Lionel Messi of Argentina weaves around Elliot Anderson, Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham of England during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina

Soccer

The World Cup Is About Great Players And Nothing Else

Tom Ley

On the left, an english fan with his face painted withe the georgian cross. On the right, the same fan with his makeup running due to crying

It’s Time To Look At Photos Of Sad England Fans

Luis Paez-Pumar

Lautaro Martinez #22 of Argentina celebrates with Lionel Messi #10 after scoring the team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

You Have To Kill Argentina Dead

Barry Petchesky

METLIFE STADIUM, EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES - 2026/07/05: Erling Haaland of Norway beats the drum as players and staff of Norway perform the 'Viking Row' to celebrate the victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 football match between Brazil and Norway. Norway won 2-1 over Brazil. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

I Sit In Solidarity With The Norway Fan Who Refuses To Do The Viking Row

Cesar Montes #3 of Mexico shoots and misses a chance against Jude Bellingham #10 of England

That’s Why This Shit Rules

Harry Kane celebrates as his teammates cheer behind him

The Game’s About The Ballers

Harry Kane of England celebrates his 1-0 goal during the 2026 World Cup at AT&amp;T Stadium in Dallas, United States, on June 17, 2026.

It Is Getting Into The Car, Leaving The Office, Avoiding Traffic, And Picking Up Fish And Chips On The Way Home

David Roth

Senegal Men's Soccer Team centre-forward Nicolas Jackson (11) defends as United States Men's National Soccer Team defender Tyler Adams (4) works the ball during a FIFA soccer match between Senegal and the USA on May 31, 2026.

Podcasts

The Dutch Style Of Pickup Soccer And A Dog Named Jeff, With Leander Schaerlaeckens

Jack Hanson

Arts And Culture

The Torpor Of ‘Converts’

Jack Grealish of Everton celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Liverpool, England.

Jack Grealish Has Rediscovered His Excellence

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 12: A young band member is seen wearing Union Jack sunglasses as Orangemen and band members take part in the annual Twelfth of July parade on July 12, 2024 in Belfast, United Kingdom. The Twelfth of July, also known as "The Twelfth" or "Orangemen's Day," is celebrated in Northern Ireland to commemorate King William's victory over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne 334 years ago. The day features parades, bonfires, wreath-laying ceremonies, and performances. The Belfast parade attracts tens of thousands of spectators each year and is part of broader celebrations with demonstrations hosted in 18 locations across Northern Ireland, including Bangor, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Newtownards, and Derry?. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Funbag

Confessions Of A Cheeky Anglophile

Chloe Kelly of England celebrates after scoring the team's winning penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park on July 27, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

Chloe Kelly Carried England To The Promised Land

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Chloe Kelly of England celebrates after scoring her team's second goal from a rebound following a saved penalty in extra-time during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Semi-Final match between England and Italy at Stade de Geneve on July 22, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

In The Face Of Chaos, England Kept Calm And Carried On Into The Euros Final

Jennifer Falk #12 of Sweden missed a decisive 11m goal against goalkeeper Hannah Hampton #1 of England in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Womens EURO 2025 Quarter-Final match between Sweden and England at Stadion Letzigrund on July 17, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Atrocious England-Sweden Penalty Shootout Has Wild Bill Hickok Turning Over In His Grave

Lauren James of England celebrates with teammate Ella Toone after scoring her team's third goal during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group D match between England and Netherlands at Stadion Letzigrund on July 09, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland.

England Unleashed Hell On The Netherlands

Dave McKenna

France's wing Damian Penaud (C) holds the trophy while France's players celebrate winning the Six Nations international rugby union tournament at the end of their match against Scotland, at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris' suburb, on March 15, 2025.

Rugby

France Deposes Ireland As Six Nations Champs While Disappointing Failed Imperialist Country Where Rugby Was Invented

Antoine Dupont of France breaks to score a try that is later disallowed due to a knock on during the Guinness Six Nations 2025 match between Ireland and France at the Aviva Stadium on March 08, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland.

Ireland Stumbles In Six Nations, Rekindles Title Hopes For Failed Imperialist Country Where Rugby Was Invented

Sam Prendergast of Ireland is tackled by Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge of Scotland during the Guinness Six Nations 2025 match between Scotland and Ireland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on February 09, 2025 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Ireland Continues Moving Toward Historic Rugby Threepeat With Assist From Failed Imperialist Nation Where Game Was Invented

<p><a href="https://tomwhyman.com/">Tom Whyman</a> is a British philosopher.</p>


Tom Whyman

Far-right activists hold an 'Enough is Enough' protest on August 02, 2024 in Sunderland, England

Politics

U.K. Politicians Can’t Fix What They Broke

Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain scores his sides second goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.

Spain Was Unstoppable To The Very End

Ollie Watkins of England celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammates from the substitutes bench during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.

England Finally Got It Right

Jude Bellingham of England, scores his team's first goal with a acrobatic kick during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between England and Slovakia at Arena AufSchalke on June 30, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

England Was Finally Exciting, Still Not Actually Good

England captain harry Kane reacts after a near miss as Jude Bellingham of England looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25, 2024 in Cologne, Germany.

Never Show Group C To Me Again

Declan Rice of England shows dejection after a draw ing the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Denmark and England at Frankfurt Arena on June 20, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

This Can’t Be The Sum Of All Of England’s Parts

Ray Ratto

Jude Bellingham of England celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Serbia and England at Arena AufSchalke on June 16, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

England