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Dudek Still Seeking Euro 2008 Spot

December 5, 2007

Jerzy DudekJerzy Dudek has said he “would like to Madrid” if it means he’ll get to play in Euro 2008. True enough, he’s going to need the regular football to prove match fitness, something he won’t get in La Liga playing behind Iker Casillas but he knew the score once he left Liverpool. He wasn’t getting regular football there so moved off to Madrid, happy to play second fiddle in a warm country with a big pay check. The move won’t guarantee him a place in the Polish national team for June and all that only comes to light if Madrid decide to let him go.

Talking to Spanish sports paper yesterday, Marca, Dudek is quoted as saying

“I’ve got a three-year contract with Real Madrid but I want to look at the possibility of leaving; Poland have qualified for the European championship for the first time and I have received an important call from the coach Leo Beenhakker who told me that if I played regularly I would be his keeper at Euro 2008. I want to play at the European championship because it will be a historic moment for our country and I haven’t played at all in Madrid. I think the best thing now is that we sit down and talk.”

Like many others going into Euro 2008, this is likely to be Dudek’s last chance at a major tournament, unlikely that he’ll still be around the game in four years time when Poland host the tournament with Ukraine.

A loan deal might be an option as I can’t imagine any team committing to signing a 34 year old goalkeeper who hasn’t played competitive club football in months. With Celtic having advanced in the Champions League and doing well at home I can’t see any problem in Artur Boruc being Beenhakker’s first choice keeper come June. At that rate, Tomasz Kuszczak has as much a chance of a call-up as Dudek and he’s likely to see more action with Man United before the season is out.

Best of luck to Jerzy in his quest.

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Written by Ken McGuire · Filed Under Group B, News, Poland | Leave a Comment