Michniewicz’s unequivocal declaration on the friendly match

The first decisions regarding Russian athletes after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have already been taken. FIFA and UEFA suspended Russian clubs and the national team, deprived Russia of the right to host this year’s world volleyball championships, and the International Paralympic Committee did not let Russian paralympics go to the Beijing Olympics.

For Poles, however, the FIFA decision was the most important. The Polish national team did not want to play with Russia in the play-offs for promotion at all costs, but it was not known for a long time: what next? The federation took a long time to decide whether Poland would get a walkover or face another rival. Ultimately, on Tuesday, a decision was made to forfeit and advance the Polish team to the play-off finals. In it we will play against the winner of the match Sweden – Czech Republic.

Michniewicz reacts to FIFA’s decision. “We were suspended in a vacuum”

We all waited impatiently for the final decision of FIFA, especially as the longer it lasted, there were more and more absurd proposals to solve this problem. However, the most waiting for a move from the federation was that he himself admitted that he would prefer to settle the fight for the play-off final on the pitch.

– We were expecting FIFA to make a decision at last and we waited impatiently for it. We were suspended in such a void for a long time. Well then, the decision is there. I would prefer to win with Russia on the pitch, but this is an exceptional situation and exceptional times, so the decision is also exceptional – said the coach in an interview with the portal.

Michniewicz also admitted that he hopes to organize at least some friendly match in exchange for canceling the meeting with. – We do not shy away from playing and we want the match on March 24. Because of a few reasons. I would like such a chafing. I know we can get injured in a friendly game like this, but it can happen at any time. It’s not an argument. In addition, I would not like someone to accuse us that we had one less match and thus more time to rest – said the coach

Another problem for Michniewicz is that he did not think too much about the Swedes and Czechs, and he focused solely on Russia. – I wanted us to be perfectly prepared. That is why I did not deal with Swedes and Czechs at all, I entrusted them to my associates. I did not want to be distracted by thinking about these rivals and I devoted all my attention to Russia – admitted the 52-year-old coach.

The final match of the play-offs for the promotion to the world championship in Qatar will be held on March 29 at the Silesian Stadium in Chorzów.