France, a working-class hockey team

A number of players in the French squad have a day job and play only when they get free time

By Mihir Vasavda


The French team comprises a wine merchant, a music student, a doctor and an aspiring gymnastics coach. (PTI Photo)

Pieter van Straaten studies in Holland, works in Belgium and plays hockey for France all over the world. The 26-year-old is half-Dutch, half-French and represented the Netherlands internationally till the under-16 level before switching allegiance. And while he is here in Bhubaneswar playing at the World Cup right now, around this time next week, he’ll be back in Haarlem, studying music production.