Poland´s Boruc, Zewlakow dropped for friendly

Poland manager Franciszek Smuda on Monday left goalkeeper Artur Boruc and captain Michal Zewlakow off his squad for the Euro 2012 hosts’ latest skill-honing friendly, after a reported bust-up.

Fiorentina’s Boruc, long a Poland stalwart, was edged out by Lukasz Fabianski of Arsenal and Przemyslaw Tyton of Dutch club Roda Kerkade on Smuda’s list for the November 17 home game against Ivory Coast.

Boruc and defender Zewlakow — who last month notched up a national record of 101 caps — reportedly angered the manager by drinking and treating flight attendants arrogantly on the way home from friendlies in North America last month.

Smuda and the Polish football federation refused to comment, but Boruc later criticised the coach’s management style.

Smuda, brought on board in October 2009 to shake things up after Poland failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa, is seen as a hard taskmaster and has sidelined players over discipline before.

He has faced criticism of his tactics, as Poland prepare for the next edition of the European championships, now only 19 months away.

The pressure is mounting ahead of the Ivory Coast game in the western city of Poznan, after an eight-match winless streak.

Like fellow Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine, Poland have a guaranteed berth and so must rely on friendlies rather than qualifiers to prepare their campaign.

Smuda is experimenting as he seeks to build the right squad.

“Everyone needs a chance so we can see who we can count on,” he said.

Among the new faces for the Ivory Coast match is striker Pawel Brozek of Polish top-flight side Wisla Krakow, sidelined by his country since 2009.

“He’s been off-form for a while, but right now he’s a crucial player for his club. He’s dangerous, and that’s just what we need,” Smuda said.

Poland fans see Euro 2012 as a chance to regain lost glory, remembering the heady days of Olympic gold in 1972, third place at the 1974 World Cup, Olympic silver in 1976, and a further World Cup third in 1982.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Lukasz Fabianski (Arsenal/ENG), Przemyslaw Tyton (Roda Kerkade/NED)

Defenders: Maciej Sadlok (Ruch Chorzow), Hubert Wolakiewicz (Lechia Gdansk), Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (Lech Poznan), Tomasz Jodlowiec (Polonia Warsaw), Kamil Glik (Palermo/ITA), Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund/GER)

Midfielders: Rafal Murawski (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Kuba Blaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Adam Matuszczyk (Cologne/GER), Ludovic Obraniak (Lille/FRA), Radoslaw Majewski (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Adrian Mierzejewski (Polonia Warsaw), Janusz Gol (Belchatow)

Forwards: Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Kamil Grosicki (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow)