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Maciej Rybus in action for his country in November. Piotr Kucza

Poland to omit 66-cap defender from World Cup squad after he signs with Russian club

Poland refused to play Russia in their scheduled World Cup play-off semi-final in March following the invasion of Ukraine.

POLAND DEFENDER MACIEJ Rybus has been dropped from the national team ahead of the 2022 World Cup after signing for a Russian club, the Polish football federation (PZPN) announced on Monday.

Rybus, 32, had been criticised for joining Spartak Moscow this month on a free transfer after spending the past five years playing for Lokomotiv Moscow.

Coach Czeslaw Michniewicz told the player that “due to his current club situation, he would not be called up for the national team’s September training camp and will not take him into account when determining the composition of the team for the World Cup in Qatar,” the PZPN said in a brief statement.

Veteran Rybus is one of Poland’s most experienced defenders having represented his country in 66 international matches.

Poland have been drawn in Group C in the World Cup which begins on 21 November along with Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

Poland refused to play Russia in their scheduled World Cup play-off semi-final in March following the invasion of Ukraine.

Originally published at 17.57; Updated at 21.33

– © AFP 2022

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Jun 20th 2022, 6:19 PM

    Good for Poland. We don’t want WW3, so every other means has to be used to ostracise Russia. I just hope that western Europe transitions to renewable energy so we stop funding rogue states like Russia and Saudi Arabia.

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    Mute TL55
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    Jun 20th 2022, 7:18 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: He’s 33 in August so probably not a lot international time left for him anyway. Nevertheless the correct decision bt the Polish FA

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    Mute Ultan Corcoran
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    Jun 20th 2022, 7:42 PM

    @TL55: Thats it yeah likely a peripheral squad player at best. Played most of his career in Russia too from memory. Think he was decent enough when played for Krasnodar who were a Europa League side years back. Then Spartak and Lokomotiv now too obviously.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jun 20th 2022, 9:49 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: How does a polish players playing for a Moscow club and his country start WW3?

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Jun 20th 2022, 9:51 PM

    @Roy Dowling: Are you drunk Roy?

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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:09 PM

    @Roy Dowling: Is this a bad Google translation of something in English or just your usual shi’ite?

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:38 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: I’m not the one bringing WW3 into a story about a polish player playing for a Moscow based club.

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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Jun 20th 2022, 11:51 PM

    @Roy Dowling: No one ever said that one transfer was going to start WW3. The goal is to hit business leaders in Russia in the pocket. The idea is that it will encourage them to be for ending the way as it is hitting the personal wealth. If there is enough of a groundswell against the war, it may end up with Putin bring ousted or at least restrict his ability to make any further war mongering moves. How effective it is though, I don’t know

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    BMJF
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    Mute BMJF
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    Jun 21st 2022, 8:13 AM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: except this doesn’t ostracise Russia. Just a player – and if the Polish manager cares so much about human rights why is he sending his team to Qatar period

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    Mute Great White Hope
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    Jun 21st 2022, 8:40 AM

    @Roy Dowling: Read before posting.

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Jun 21st 2022, 10:57 AM

    @BMJF: If you understand the practice of sportswashing, you’ll understand that these cumulative actions do ostracise Russia. If you understand the concept of the perfect being the enemy of the good, you’ll understand that good things even when inconsistent are still good things.

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    Mute Philip Holohan
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    Jun 21st 2022, 12:11 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: but his point of Qatar is correct. No point in being righteous about Russia when the other murderous mob get off. More nations should follow our lead and boycott the world cup. Also a Ukrainian is fighting a Brit for boxing biggest prize in Saudi. Sports washing surely?? But nobody gives a shit. But say Daniel Kinahan may be involved and everyone looses their shit. Not sticking up for Russia or Kinahan but the hypocrisy stinks. Only let approved murders sport wash seems to be message………

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    Mute Sustainable Hedgehog
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    Jun 21st 2022, 12:32 PM

    @Philip Holohan: I don’t think you understand my point. Are you saying that because there’s a World Cup in Qatar and a World Heavyweight Championship fight in Saudi we can’t applaud this decision? Just because the world is full of hypocrisy doesn’t mean we can’t do anything, hopefully Michniewicz’ action will lead to sports being more involved in rights issues and antiwar protests. It’s just an excuse to point out a hypocrisy and use that as an reason for inaction.

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    Mute Philip Holohan
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    Jun 21st 2022, 11:05 PM

    @Sustainable Hedgehog: my point is more we say fair play to Poland for not picking a guy for making his living in place where government are committing immoral acts but don’t point out he’s not been picked for a world cup in place as bad. He’s just making a living. We watch American entertainment/sport after numerous invasions. Why not be fair and equal. If your happy this guy won’t be playing world cup why pick and choose your outrage. Hypocrisy indeed.

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    Mute Shane Lad
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    Jun 20th 2022, 7:55 PM

    Leave the man alone, he switched from one Moscow club to another, big deal. probably has family and kids he doesn’t want to have to move from school and friends.
    So he wants to stay where he has been for years what’s the big deal . Pity he’s had to be banned from international selection but I’m sure he knew that before he did

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    Mute David O'Brien
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    Jun 20th 2022, 11:25 PM

    @Shane Lad: he’s married to a russian lady and has 3 half russian kids. Perfectly understandable

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    Mute Great White Hope
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    Jun 21st 2022, 8:40 AM

    @David O’Brien: For him

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    Mute TheHospitalPass
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    Jun 21st 2022, 9:08 AM

    @David O’Brien: stop speaking sense David!

    Everyone else seems happy to castigate the lad without having any context to the background

    29
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    Mute TheHospitalPass
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    Jun 21st 2022, 9:09 AM

    @Great White Hope: correct. Nothing to do or any impact on your life pal

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    Mute Great White Hope
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    Jun 21st 2022, 3:17 PM

    @TheHospitalPass: Human rights and security effects everyone Poland showing support for the right of people to live safely and in peace. If you don’t get that ask an adult to proof read you draft before posting.

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    Mute Mitre
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    Jun 20th 2022, 7:31 PM

    Anyone playing in the MLS should be dropped for their country for the US invasion of Irag, which found absolutely no evidence of weapons of mass destruction. Oh wait what I’m saying is against mainstream media narrative.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jun 20th 2022, 9:47 PM

    @Patrick Breen: fun fact. in a several years ago survey 11% of America school children couldn’t identify America on a map.

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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:04 PM

    @Roy Dowling: Is that your idea of fun? Sad…

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:35 PM

    @lelookcoco: Me sad? The sad thing is the people who can’t identify their own country on a map.

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    Mute Noel Doherty
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:53 PM

    @lelookcoco: that is a sad but true fact remember when it was released

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    Mute Patrick Breen
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    Jun 20th 2022, 11:08 PM

    @Roy Dowling: my joke was based on the misspelling of Iraq as Irag by the OP, rather than a message on the education system, not sure if you picked up on that one.

    29
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    Mute SPQH
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    Jun 21st 2022, 2:34 AM

    @Roy Dowling: what was the sample size, the age cohorts and the agency carrying out the purported survey you claim is legit? This stinks of being sourced from clickbait. Post the URL please so we can all analyse the data. I looked it up on the browser and all I got was references to dodgy surveys of little repute. Thank you in advance.

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    Mute SPQH
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    Jun 21st 2022, 2:38 AM

    @Noel Doherty: this sounds sad but is a massaging of the figures. Its highly unlikely a true picture. I’ve yet to meet an American who doesn’t know what their country looks like on a map, have you met any?

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    Mute Martin Glynn
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    Jun 21st 2022, 6:48 AM

    @Mitre: I get the sentiment but Iraq hardly the same as Ukraine ???? They weren’t exactly

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    Mute Martin Glynn
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    Jun 21st 2022, 6:49 AM

    @Mitre: I get the sentiment but Iraq hardly the same as Ukraine ???? They weren’t exactly innocent. Everyone knows the “weapons of mass destruction” was just an excuse but they were by no means innocent.

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    Mute Philip Holohan
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    Jun 21st 2022, 12:14 PM

    @Martin Glynn: what were they guilty of??

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    Mute lelookcoco
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:02 PM

    OMG. I’m listening to Tchaikovsky. Off with my ears..

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    Mute Great White Hope
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    Jun 21st 2022, 8:43 AM

    @lelookcoco: Off with your hands so you can stop posting b ull sh it

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    Mute Conall Finn
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    Jun 21st 2022, 12:02 AM

    This is BS no chance they would have done it. If it was lewandowski .

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    Mute Great White Hope
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    Jun 21st 2022, 8:45 AM

    @Conall Finn: you can know or prove that. Stop posting tripe

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    Mute Wazzi
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    Jun 20th 2022, 10:08 PM

    Hypocrites

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    Mute Great White Hope
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    Jun 21st 2022, 8:46 AM

    @Wazzi: No proof whatsoever.

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    Mute M.J. O' Neill
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    Jun 20th 2022, 11:23 PM

    Dead right

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