Dabrowski switch ruled out
ByReuters
Published 04/11/2005 at 18:00 GMT
FIFA have ruled that Poland cannot call German B-international Christoph Dabrowski into their national side for next year's World Cup finals. "The Hannover 96 player will not be able to play for the national team," the Polish football association said on its website on Friday.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
"His earlier caps in German national teams do not allow it, according to FIFA's interpretation."
With playmaker Miroslaw Szymkowiak out injured, coach Pawel Janas is seeking alternative options to fill the centre midfield role and had hoped to call on Polish-born Dabrowski for friendlies this month.
The Poles have lacked a world class player in the role since Kazimierz Deyna and Zbigniew Boniek drove the national team to second place finishes in the 1974 and 1982 finals.
They will now look to a decision expected to grant Polish citizenship this year to Wisla Krakow's Argentinian central midfielder Mauro Cantoro, who has never played at international level and is free to choose to play for Poland.
The Poles play Ecuador in Barcelona on November 13 and are at home to Estonia three days later.
Scan me
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement