Boniek weighing up Dudek deputy

There is no place for Jerzy Dudek in Zbigniew Boniek's maiden Poland squad as the new coach sets about finding a No2 to the Liverpool FC goalkeeper in the 21 August friendly with Belgium in Szczecin.

Early exit
Poland's greatest player, Boniek took charge of the national team last month, succeeding Jerzy Engel who was sacked following Poland's first-round elimination at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Dudek kept goal in Poland's opening two matches, both defeats, before standing aside as his country beat the United States 3-1 in their final game in Korea/Japan.

'One of the best'
Even though Dudek, who performed magnificently in his first season at Anfield last term, was roundly criticised in his homeland for his World Cup displays, he remains Boniek's first choice. "Dudek's position in the team is very strong," said Boniek. "Despite his poor form in Korea, Dudek is still one of the best keepers in Europe."

Olisadebe excluded
Radoslaw Majdan and Wojciech Kowalewski are vying to be Dudek's understudy, and both are in a squad of 18 for the visit of fellow World Cup finalists Belgium. The only new player in a party not featuring Emmanuel Olisadebe is KP Polonia Warszawa defender Marcin Kus.

'Build a new team'
Boniek expects the 21-year-old Kus, along with fellow youngsters Tomasz Kos of 1. FC Nürnberg and DSC Arminia Bielefeld's Daniel Bogusz, to play a leading role in his new-look Poland side. "We want to build a new national team," said Boniek, who will use this friendly to experiment with new players and formations ahead of EURO 2004™ qualifying. Poland are in Group 4 alongside Sweden, Hungary, Latvia and San Marino.

Poland squad
Majdan, Kowalewski, Jacek Bak, Glowacki, Kos, Kus, Bogusz, Zewlakow, Kaluzny, Kosowski, Karwan, Lewandowski, Kaczorowski, Kucharski, Zurawski, Kryszalowicz, Zewlakow, Wichniarek.