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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.

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Defector

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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Billy Haisley

Lionel Messi right winger of Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain with the World Cup trophy after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina v France: Final – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Soccer

The World Cup Belongs To The Dreamers

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Luis Paez-Pumar

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Andrés Cantor Called Argentina’s World Cup Win Like Only He Could

Lionel Messi of Argentina poses with his Golden ball award following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Lionel Messi Is Done Chasing Ghosts

Lionel Messi, Captain of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Trophy following his team's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Argentina Went To Hell And Back To Win The World Cup

France's players celebrate their victory in the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-final football match between France and Morocco at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, north of Doha on December 14, 2022.

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Farewell To Morocco, The Winners Of The World Cup

Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi outpasses Croatia's defender #20 Josko Gvardiol during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football semi-final match between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 13, 2022.

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Lionel Messi Makes The Difference

A fan in the stands holds aloft a replica World Cup trophy during the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final match at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Picture date: Friday December 9, 2022.

Croatia v Brazil – FIFA World Cup 2022 – Quarter Final – Education City Stadium

The World Cup’s Beauty Is In The Eye Of Its Holder

09 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Soccer, World Cup, Netherlands - Argentina, final round, quarterfinal, Lusail Stadium, Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez cheers with teammates after winning the penalty shootout.

World Cup 2022 – Netherlands – Argentina

Emi Martínez Saved Argentina From Itself

Croatia's goalkeeper #01 Dominik Livakovic deflects a shot from Brazil's forward #21 Rodrygo during a penalty shootout during the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final football match between Croatia and Brazil at Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on December 9, 2022.

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Internationals

Croatia Did The Impossible By Beating The Inevitable

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Albert Burneko

Cristiano Ronaldo looking pissy in his yellow substitute's vest

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Portugal Romped While Ronaldo Watched

Achraf Hakimi of Morocco celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on December 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

Morocco v Spain: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Spain Beat Itself Again

Cameroonian Football Federation President Samuel Eto'o during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Cameroon and Serbia at Al Janoub Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

Cameroon v Serbia: Group G – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Samuel Eto’o Kicked A Guy In The Face At The World Cup

Japan v Croatia: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Japan Finally Plays A Good Game And Loses Anyway

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Chris Thompson

Kylian Mbappé holds up two fingers to signify two goals scored.

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Kylian Mbappé Scores Two Lovely Goals As France Puts Away Poland

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Ray Ratto

Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States reacts at the final whistle after a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Netherlands and USMNT at Khalifa International Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. He's dejected with his head in shirt and the USMNT just got a thorough drubbing.

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To Nobody’s Surprise, The Americans Deliver No Surprises

Japanese players celebrate their Group E win over Spain

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Japan Is The Best Kind Of World Cup Killer

France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between France and Denmark at Stadium 974 in Doha on November 26, 2022.

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Underexplained Lists

The 16 Teams Left In The World Cup, Ranked By Coolness

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Samer Kalaf

Saudi coaches Herve Renard and Mohammed Ameen give a motivational halftime speech during the team's game against Argentina.

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Yelling In Arabic Has Its Merits

Julian Alvarez of Argentina celebrates with Enzo Fernandez after scoring their team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Poland and Argentina at Stadium 974 on November 30, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Poland v Argentina: Group C – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Argentina’s Young Stars Have Arrived

A dejected Joachim Andersen of Denmark at full time after being knocked out the FIFA World Cup in the group stages during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D match between Australia and Denmark at Al Janoub Stadium on November 30, 2022 in Al Wakrah, Qatar

Australia v Denmark: Group D – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Denmark Was Something Rotten

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Patrick Redford

DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 29: Sergino Dest of USA controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

IR Iran v USA: Group B – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Why Not U.S.?

USA's forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team's first goal past Iran's goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on November 29, 2022.

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The USMNT Is What We Thought It Was

Ghana's midfielder #20 Mohammed Kudus celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H football match between South Korea and Ghana at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on November 28, 2022. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

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Ghana Is Definitely Here For A Good Time, Maybe For A Long Time

Casemiro of Brazil scores their team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Brazil and Switzerland at Stadium 974 on November 28, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Brazil v Switzerland: Group G – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

This Is How Brazil Will Win The World Cup

Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar scores their side's second goal of the game during the FIFA World Cup Group G match at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

Cameroon v Serbia – FIFA World Cup 2022 – Group G – Al Janoub Stadium

Cameroon-Serbia Was The World Cup’s Weirdest And Wildest Game

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