Player loses World Cup slot with Poland over new contract with Russian club

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By Martin Graham | 22nd Jun 2022

Reports in Poland have suggested that the coach of the national team has informed Maicej Rybus of his eviction from the national team squads for the Nations League and the World Cup in Qatar because of the new contract he has signed with Russian giants Lokomotiv Moscow.

This is coming as a result of the loose ties the Polish nation has developed with the Russians for the past few months due to the illegal invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine. Speculations have long filled the air of the Polish government completely and officially cutting off all ties with the Russian government.

The fullback who is under contract with Lokomotiv Moscow stayed with the club even after the announcement of the full-scale invasion of their neighbouring country, Ukraine. The Polish international also extended his current deal with the club for another two years. The deal was announced last Saturday, the 11th of June.

Rybus, who is capped 66 times for his country, is in the middle of a very complicated situation. The fullback has spent almost all of his entire career in Russia, in various clubs across Russia. He is also well settled in Russia as he is married to a Russian native.

Other players in Rybus’ shoes

The fullback has been a regular in the Polish national team and has been in many squads in times past. He was most recently in the squad last November and was a mainstay in the team at the European championship. Rybus was also a member of the Polish national team squad for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Although there are other Polish internationals still contracted to Russian clubs, the Polish Football Federation and the head coach has not made any other comments as regards their future. Grzegorz Krychowiak who plays for Krasnodar FC and Sebastian Szymanski are also tied to contracts with Russian league clubs. However, the former (Krychowiak) has signed a short loan agreement to move to AEK Athens on loan.

Poland face an unenviable task of battling Argentina, Mexico and Saudi Arabia in their group at the Mundial in Qatar. They will need all their best legs to be in form and in tune with the system on board. Though we have gotten no word from Rybus on the matter, there is still a chance that he can wriggle his way through all these and get his place back.