France did like many other countries, including Sweden, when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. They suspended players from the KHL, the Russian league that has close relations with the Russian regime, from national team games.
But just before the WC, Stephane Da Costa, who plays in the KHL team Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, appeared in the national team’s lineup.
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The matter was up at ministerial level and in a press release the Ministry of Sports explained the decision by saying, among other things, that Da Costa does not support the Russian invasion and they also referred to the International Olympic Committee’s decision to welcome Russians who do not support the war to the Olympics.
When SVT Sport wants to interview Da Costa about this, the French team’s press manager says he doesn’t want to talk about it and won’t answer questions. They also refer to a sense of injury that makes it difficult to get an interview.
Confederation captain Philippe Bozon is also very tight-lipped on the matter.
– I’m only talking about sports. We are happy to have him in the team. The rest has nothing to do with me, he says.
Do you know anything about what the process was like?
– I don’t take care of it.
What is his role in the team?
– He is skilled. A playmaker and a goalscorer. For us, that is a big plus. We are happy to have him here.
Sweden meets France at 16.20 today, Monday. In case of victory, Tre Kronor secures the group victory.
See interview with the national team captain in the player above.