WARSAW (AFP) - French-born Poland midfielder Ludovic Obraniak may skip his chance to turn out against les Bleus in a friendly next week because he is poised to become a father, manager Franciszek Smuda said on Tuesday.
"I don't know if Ludo's going to play, because he's waiting for the birth of his child. I know his dream is to be there at the birth, and I don't want to mess that up for him," Smuda was quoted as saying by Poland's news agency PAP.
Fresh from the French cup and league double with his club Lille, Obraniak was a natural name on the list for the Euro 2012 co-hosts' home friendlies against Argentina on June 5 and France on June 9.
With Poland desperate to shine in the 2012 European Championships—which they will co-host with neighbours Ukraine—their PZPN football association has been scouting for new faces in the world's huge Polish diaspora.
Obraniak's grandparents were Poles, making him eligible for citizenship without living in Poland, and allowing him to join the squad.
Now 26, he was first capped in 2009. He has worn the red and white shirt on a total of 15 occasions, and scored four goals.
Poland have another Frenchman in their sights, 27-year-old Sochaux defender Damien Perquis, who also has Polish ancestry.
Perquis visited Warsaw last week to try to put the finishing touches to his application for a Polish passport.
"I hope all the formalities for Damien's Polish citizenship application will be sorted out soon, because the lad is really counting on it. I understand that everything's on the right track," said Smuda.
The PZPN began casting the net abroad following criticism for doing nothing to stop losing the likes of Polish-born Lukas Podolski, who plays for Germany where he grew up.
Its most recent catch was Polish-born former Germany under-21 Sebastian Boenisch, 24.
Football's world governing body FIFA allows youth players to switch relatively easily, and the German-raised Werder Bremen defender made his Poland debut last September.
"I don't know if Ludo's going to play, because he's waiting for the birth of his child. I know his dream is to be there at the birth, and I don't want to mess that up for him," Smuda was quoted as saying by Poland's news agency PAP.
Fresh from the French cup and league double with his club Lille, Obraniak was a natural name on the list for the Euro 2012 co-hosts' home friendlies against Argentina on June 5 and France on June 9.
With Poland desperate to shine in the 2012 European Championships—which they will co-host with neighbours Ukraine—their PZPN football association has been scouting for new faces in the world's huge Polish diaspora.
Obraniak's grandparents were Poles, making him eligible for citizenship without living in Poland, and allowing him to join the squad.
Now 26, he was first capped in 2009. He has worn the red and white shirt on a total of 15 occasions, and scored four goals.
Poland have another Frenchman in their sights, 27-year-old Sochaux defender Damien Perquis, who also has Polish ancestry.
Perquis visited Warsaw last week to try to put the finishing touches to his application for a Polish passport.
"I hope all the formalities for Damien's Polish citizenship application will be sorted out soon, because the lad is really counting on it. I understand that everything's on the right track," said Smuda.
The PZPN began casting the net abroad following criticism for doing nothing to stop losing the likes of Polish-born Lukas Podolski, who plays for Germany where he grew up.
Its most recent catch was Polish-born former Germany under-21 Sebastian Boenisch, 24.
Football's world governing body FIFA allows youth players to switch relatively easily, and the German-raised Werder Bremen defender made his Poland debut last September.
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