CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Jude Bellingham #10 of England scores his team’s sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Bronze Final between France and England at Miami Stadium on July 18, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Soccer

All 10 Goals In That Bonkers Third-Place Match, Ranked

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

The World Cup Is About Great Players And Nothing Else

Tom Ley

Spain’s Perfect Game Needed A Perfect Goal

Kylian Mbappe (L) and Ousmane Dembele (R) of France reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Foxborough, United States.

France Feels Inevitable

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates past Paraguay's goalkeeper #12 Orlando Gill after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Paraguay and France at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026.

Paraguayan Senator Gets Shockingly Racist Toward Kylian Mbappé

Michael Olise of France attempts an overhead kick which hits the crossbar during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden

Michael Olise And France Are Soccer’s Greatest Evangelists

Ray Ratto

The French national team smiles after scoring a goal

France Is Great. What Else Is New?

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

Rayan Cherki of France gives the captain's armband to teammate Kylian Mbappe during the international friendly match between Colombia and France at Northwest Stadium on March 29, 2026 in Landover, Maryland.

Rayan Cherki Is A Human Highlight Reel

Patrick Redford

Belgium Remco Evenepoel, Slovenia Tadej Pogacar and France Paul Seixas pictured on the podium after the Men Elite raod race, a 202,5 km from Privas to Guilherand-Granges, at the UEC road European cycling championships, Sunday 05 October 2025, France. The European cycling championships Drome-Ardeche takes place from 1 to 5 October, France. BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS (Photo by DAVID PINTENS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)

Cycling

Cycling Prodigy Paul Seixas Accepts The Sport’s Defining Burden

Tour de France riders against a lovely mountain backdrop dappled with the shadows of fluffy clouds.

Some More Stuff I Saw At The Tour de France

A float for the Cochonou brand in the Tour de France caravan, with spectators reaching out to it as it passes.

There Is No Tour de France Without The Tour de Brands

My Tour de France Lunches, Reviewed

Valentin Paret-Peintre of France and Team Soudal Quick-Step and Ben Healy of Ireland and Team EF Education - EasyPost sprint at finish line to win during Stage 16 of the 112th Tour de France 2025.

France Finally Has Something To Smile About At The Tour

The pack of the Tour de France cross a railway line during a stage of the Great Loop, in July 1933. (Photo by STF / AFP) (Photo credit should read STF/AFP via Getty Images)

How To Watch Cycling

Kathryn Xu

This photograph shows a TGV inoui high speed train of the French national SNCF rail company SNCF running in Nantes, western France, on April 4, 2025.

Transit

All The Trains I Rode In France

Albert Burneko

This Is So Stupid

Dave McKenna Insists They Have Ham Trucks In France

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

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 10: Stephen Curry (4) of Team USA in action during Men's Gold Medal game between Team France and Team United States on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images)

‘Court Of Gold’ Is Brilliant When It Gets Specific

Giri Nathan

PARIS, FRANCE: AUGUST 11: A'Ja Wilson #9 of Team United States drives to the basket defended by Valeriane Ayayi #11 of Team France and Janelle Salaun #13 of Team France during the United States of America v France, Women's Basketball Gold Medal Game at the Bercy Arena during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games on August 11th, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Olympics

The U.S. Women Win Gold In An Unfamiliar Nail-Biter

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Lebron James #6 and Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States celebrate after their team's win against Team Serbia during a Men's basketball semifinals match between Team United States and Team Serbia on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Steph Curry Kept The U.S. On Top

USA's #11 Joel Embiid celebrates at the end of the men's semifinal basketball match between USA and Serbia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris on August 8, 2024. (Photo by Aris MESSINIS / AFP)

Joel Embiid’s War With The French Nears Its Conclusion

Japan's #08 Rui Hachimura leaves the court after being sent off for committing to successive unsporting fouls in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between Japan and France during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on July 30, 2024.

Cheating-Ass France Men’s Basketball Needed A Pair Of Miracles To Beat Japan

Vanessa Gilles #14 of Team Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring her team's second goal during the Women's group A match between France and Canada during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on July 28, 2024 in Saint-Etienne, France.