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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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tip jar sweepstakes

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Billy Haisley

Ayase Ueda of Japan controls the ball against Thet Hein Soe of Myanmar during the FIFA World Cup Asian 2nd qualifier match between Japan and Myanmar at Panasonic Stadium Suita on November 16, 2023 in Suita, Osaka, Japan.

Japan v Myanmar – FIFA World Cup Asian 2nd Qualifier

Soccer

Japan Is For Real

Emma Hayes, Head Coach of Chelsea FC poses for a portrait during the UEFA Women's Champions League Official Portraits shoot on October 17, 2023 in Cobham, England.

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Emma Hayes Knows What American Soccer Needs

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Ollie Watkins (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team third goal during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Fulham at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on November 12, 2023.

FBL-ENG-PR-ASTON VILLA-FULHAM

Aston Villa Might Be A Mirage, But It’s A Fun One

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Abigail Segel

FC Gotham players hug after scoring a goal in the 2023 NWSL Championship game

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NWSL

Gotham’s Batshit Championship Win Caps NWSL’s Season Of Renewal

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Albert Burneko

soccer-player

Life Lessons

Life Comes At You Fast

Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Celtic FC at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on November 7, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

Atletico Madrid v Celtic FC: Group E – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Atlético Madrid Is Enjoying Life In Bizarro World

Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag, looking lonely and miserable on the sideline while his team blows a lead to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

tenhag

More Like Erik Two Hag

The LED board shows the VAR check which disallows a Tottenham Hotspur goal for offside during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 06, 2023 in London, England.

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea FC – Premier League

VAR Turned A Great Match Into The Worst And Weirdest Game Of The Season

Luis Diaz of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the equalising goal during the Premier League match between Luton Town and Liverpool FC at Kenilworth Road on November 05, 2023 in Luton, England.

Luton Town v Liverpool FC – Premier League

Luis Díaz Delivered For Liverpool As Search For Kidnapped Father Continues

Francisco 'Isco' Alarcon of Real Betis celebrates a goal during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between Real Betis and CA Osasuna at Benito Villamarin stadium on October 29, 2023, in Sevilla, Spain.

Real Betis V Ca Osasuna – La Liga Ea Sports

Isco’s Career Renaissance Is Better Late Than Never

Emile is a freelance writer, originally from the U.S., now living in Barcelona. He writes about Spanish soccer, namely FC Barcelona and Barça Femeni, on Substack, at <a href="https://barcafemeni.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://barcafemeni.substack.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw14bYDiXeApFrdtb0hLPnFE">La Barça Soc Supporter</a> and appears regularly on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/TheBarcelonaPod&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3pyv2PojdPBZ1Gkv3_aN-S">The Barcelona Podcast</a>. His work has previously featured at outlets including The Blizzard, <a href="https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urbanpitch.com/author/eavanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0I4zygG7AmIDTzwXlPE2u_">Urban Pitch</a>, The Squall, Barça Blaugranes, and <a href="https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/author/emile-avanessian/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753084000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3g0kv0jxafpvL520xVCsVU">Sports Collectors Daily</a>.
Emile also writes about the NBA, at his new outpost League Pass in L’Eixample. His previous work can be found at Forum Blue and Gold and his own site, a living relic of the basketblog era, <a href="https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://hardwoodhype.com/the-work&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1699026753085000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2U949Uf-KXcPwkDPCbW129">Hardwood Hype</a>.

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Emile Avanessian

Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Women's Ballon d'Or award during the 2023 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 30, 2023.

TOPSHOT-FBL-AWARD-BALLON D’OR-2023

The Moments That Made Aitana Bonmatí The Best In The World

A general view of the performance as Saudi Arabia is displayed on the LED Screen during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw at Doha Exhibition Center on April 1, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Draw

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 World Cup

Jude Bellingham player of Real Madrid celebrates his goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 28, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF – LaLiga EA Sports

Jude Bellingham Has Already Made Madrid His Own

Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Borussia Dortmund at St. James Park on October 25, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Newcastle United FC v Borussia Dortmund: Group F – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Update: Sandro Tonali’s 10-Month Gambling Ban No Longer In Limbo

Brais Mendez of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Sociedad at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on October 24, 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal.

SL Benfica v Real Sociedad: Group D – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Champions League

Real Sociedad Is Exactly What The Champions League Needs

Johan Bakayoko of PSV celebrates 0-1 with Sergino Dest of PSV during the UEFA Champions League match between RC Lens v PSV at the Stade Bollaert Delelis on October 24, 2023 in Lens France

RC Lens v PSV – UEFA Champions League

The Champions League’s ‘RedZone’ Had Its Crowning Moment

Jeremy Doku of Manchester City battles with Pascal Gross of Brighton &amp; Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton &amp; Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium on October 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion – Premier League

Jérémy Doku Unleashed

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Tom Ley

Megan Rapinoe #15 of OL Reign reacts after her last home regular-season NWSL match at Lumen Field on October 06, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

Washington Spirit v OL Reign

Megan Rapinoe Put Retirement Off A Little Longer

United States forward Christian Pulisic (10) celebrates his goal with United States forward Tim Weah (21) during a match between the United Sates and Germany on October 14, 2023, at Pratt &amp; Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut.

SOCCER: OCT 14 USA vs Germany

The USMNT Once Again Played The Best

Belgium's forward Eden Hazard celebrates during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on July 6, 2018.

FBL-WC-2018-MATCH58-BRA-BEL

Eden Hazard Deserved A Better Ending

Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder #11 Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on October 8, 2023.

FBL-ENG-PR-ARSENAL-MAN CITY

Gabriel Martinelli Is Built For The Big Ones

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Patrick Redford

Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring first goal during the Serie A Tim match between Genoa CFC and AC Milan at Luigi Ferrari Stadium on October 7, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Genoa CFC v AC Milan – Serie A TIM

Christian Pulisic Is Finally Back In The Groove

Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Newcastle United FC and Paris Saint-Germain at St. James Park on October 4, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Newcastle United FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Group F – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Newcastle Roared To Champions League Life

Chicago Fire fans celebrate from the stands at SeatGeek Stadium on June 6, 2023 in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Houston Dynamo v Chicago Fire – Quarterfinals: 2023 U.S. Open Cup

Chicago Fire Tries Bribing Fans To Attend Game Messi Might Not Play In

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: Anthony Martial, Andre Onana of Manchester United walks off during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and Galatasaray A.S. at Old Trafford on October 03, 2023 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United v Galatasaray A.S.: Group A – UEFA Champions League 2023/24

Manchester United Is Back In The Pain Cave