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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Andrea Pirlo of UC Sampdoria looks during the Serie B match between US Salernitana and UC Sampdoria at Stadio Arechi on August 27, 2024 in Salerno, Italy.

Soccer

Italian National Team Plans, Then Cancels Its Andrea Pirlo Party

Players of Italy reacts at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Oops, Italy Did It Again, Again!

Kathryn Xu

Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of Team Italy is showered with ice water by Jakob Marsee.

Nobody’s Having More Fun Than The Italians

Barry Petchesky

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 7: Manager Mark Deosa of the United States stands for the national anthem before a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Great Britain and the United States at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)

Mark DeRosa Might’ve Boned This Big-Time

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 11: Elias Pettersson #40 of Sweden tries to score against Goalie Damian Clara #i20 of Italy during the Men's Preliminary Group B match between Sweden and Italy on day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 11, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by RvS.Media/Robert Hradil/Getty Images)

Olympics

Damian Clara Was Italy’s Improbable Bastion

Lauren Theisen

Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner of Team Italy look on against Team Switzerland during the Curling Mixed Doubles Round Robin ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

Let’s All Say “Buongiorno” To My Favorite Olympic Curlers

MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 26: An general view of the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena located in the Santa Giulia district on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. For the 2026 Olympic Games, a new multi-purpose arena will be inaugurated, where 16,000 people will be able to watch the best national teams and the great international stars of ice hockey and para ice hockey on November 26, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vincenzo Lombardo/Getty Images)

What’s Going On With The Olympic Hockey Arena?

Norway's team players ans staff celebrate their victory at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualification football match between Italy and Norway, at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, on November 16, 2025.

Norway Is So Much More Than Just Erling Haaland

Billy Haisley

Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates during the European qualifier Fifa World Cup 2026 match between Italy and Israel at Friuli stadium. Final score; Italy 3 : 0 Israel.

Italy Makes Up For UEFA’s Cowardice By Ending Israel’s World Cup Chances

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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

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

Mattia Zaccagni of Italy celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Croatia and Italy at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 24, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany.

Italy Climbed Out Of Its Grave And Shoved Croatia In

Kelsey McKinney

Zillowing Out

A €12.3 Million Estate Where We Can Become Wine Barons

Ray Ratto

Ronaldinho Gaúcho of União sends a kiss to his fans during Futebol Solidário match at Maracana Stadium on May 26, 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ronaldinho Blames It All On The Deodorant

Albert Burneko

The Italy women's national team poses for a team photograph at the Euro 2022 tournament.

Italy’s Getting There, Slowly, Maybe

Patrick Redford

Moments after disaster, when Bettio crashes.

Cycling

The Giro d’Italia Has Turned Into A Hazardous Slog

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

Dadfector

Free Things My Small Child Was Given In France And Italy, Ranked

Stefan Spirovski of North Macedonia celebrates their side's victory as Joao Pedro Galvao of Italy looks dejected after the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier knockout round play-off match between Italy and North Macedonia at Stadio Renzo Barbera on March 24, 2022 in Palermo, Italy.

Oops, Italy Did It Again!

Curling

Congratulations And So Long To Our Favorite Italian Curling Duo

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: Conor McGregor speaks onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on September 12, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS)

Famous Italian DJ: Conor McGregor Broke My Nose Hours After Baptizing His Son At The Vatican

Italy's defender Giorgio Chiellini raises the European Championship trophy during the presentation after Italy won the UEFA EURO 2020 final football match between Italy and England at the Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021.

Italy Deserved It

England players look on dejected after losing in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England.

It Did Not Come Home

Players of Italy celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Semi-final match between Italy and Spain at Wembley Stadium on July 06, 2021 in London, England.

[WILD GESTURING AND SCREAMING IN ITALIAN]

Jorginho of Italy celebrates with Matteo Pessina and Domenico Berardi after scoring their sides winning penalty in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Semi-final match between Italy and Spain at Wembley Stadium on July 06, 2021 in London, England.