You probably remember how at the 2010 World Championships in Cologne the Russian team was accused of drinking and smoking during the tournament. The story of how the actors went out to smoke on the veranda during dinner in a restaurant after a game was even shown on central television later. Moreover, they were late for the release of the game (the famous Igor Larin later called this event “Two Ovechkin Bulls”). And head coach Vyacheslav Bykov announced that these were not real players, but clones, and announced that he was boycotting the Russian press.

It would seem that such witch hunts are only a Russian hobby, but it turns out that this particular sport is not alien to others. The other day, the Swedish edition of Aftonbladet lashed out at the US team, who, according to Swedish journalists, held very violent alcohol parties in Tampere. The accusations were so persistent that the cold-blooded Americans had to react to them, but it seems that the championship is held in Finland, and how the USA team spends their free time should concern only itself, and not Sweden. But Finnish pen sharks did not stand aside either.

“Every year in the World Cup it seems surprising that the USA team last played in the final in 1960. There has been some development recently, but it is clear that in America this tournament is almost not followed and the World Hockey Championship is definitely not among the priorities. Today’s hockey is not so much. It’s complicated that it’s hard to believe players can do their job if they don’t follow the rules and live the life of an athlete, but the behavior of the USA team tells a different story.

Americans have been known to “burn” for at least two days at Heidi’s Bier in Tampere. The team went there as soon as it arrived in Tampere and right after the victory over Latvia.” – Writes the Finnish edition of Jaakiekon.

Americans had to deny the allegations of excessive drinking.

“We just went for dinner. Nothing special, we had dinner and enjoyed each other’s company. It is important to us. Is it true that our players drink beer? It’s legal for all teams, nothing special.”– I said Kieffer BellowsScored a double against England.

However, the rumors did not end there. Soon, information appeared that the players of the USA national team, which are no longer in full force, were seen in one or another nightclub, allegedly celebrating the victory over Sweden. At the same time, some players are said to be excessively drunk (names are not called).

For some reason, interesting details about these parties are not reported. If after such meetings of the Russian team in foreign newspapers even a check was printed counting the number of beer bottles drunk by us, then it was noted that guests from America drank here. No one saw them drunk on the ice or around the stadium, and the result for team USA is quite satisfactory: 10 points in 5 games and fourth place in group B.

In a word, without the Russians at the 2022 World Cup it is boring even in such matters.