Boruc still has future with Poland - despite Beenhakker's 'punishment'

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 11:23

CELTIC goalkeeper Artur Boruc has been assured his international career is not over – despite the antics which saw him dropped from the Poland squad.

Boruc has been omitted for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Slovenia and San Marino after allegedly breaking a curfew following last week's friendly in Ukraine.

Boruc, 28, and international team-mates Dariusz Dudka and Radoslaw Majewski were accused of leaving the team hotel to have a night out with Polish journalists.

Comparing Boruc's behaviour to that of an unruly child, Poland boss Leo Beenhakker revealed he had spoken to the keeper to explain his axing.

"I phoned Artur on Monday to tell him before it was made public. I wanted him to hear first and get a full explanation for my decision," Beenhakker said.

"I wanted to stress that his Poland career is not over. Artur made a mistake. In life, we all make them."

Of leaving out Boruc, Dudka and Majewski, Beenhakker added: "It was a very difficult decision to drop them – one of the hardest I've ever taken.

"I spent the whole weekend thinking about it and struggled to get my head round it. It still hurts to think about what I am doing but I have no option.

"I've the same sort of feeling I have had in the past many times as a father. Sometimes, your kids do things that disappoint you.

"When that happens, you have to punish them and show them the right way – but you still love them.

"I cannot explain the decision because I would need to raise a number of details of that evening. That's something I won't do. I'm a coach, I'm not in the business of destroying reputations.

"What happened will remain within the team.

"I know there are different versions and speculation, but that's fine by me. I won't add fuel to the fire."

Boruc could yet face an internal sanction from Celtic, with manager Gordon Strachan saying he would look at the facts of the incident before deciding whether to take any action.

Dundee United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska appears to have profited from Boruc's omission after he was called up by Beenhakker.

Zaluska is likely to play second fiddle to Arsenal's Lukasz Fabianski in next month's games but the Poland boss said: "Our goalkeeping coach thinks very highly of Zaluska.

"He watched him against Motherwell in the SPL on Saturday and was impressed, so he now has a chance to show me what he can do."