"When I heard that Iwan broke down after learning of the coach's decision I immediately picked up the phone," Boniek said.
"I understand his disapointment very well. In 1976 I was in the same situation.
"I played in every game of the national team, and then I learned from the TV that I wouldn't go to the Olympics.
"But the dissapointment only mobilised me to work harder.
"Iwan breaks down. Unfortunately, this points to the fact that Engel was right.
"This year Iwan played very rarely for his club and was not shining in the national team. I really feel for him but I agree with Engel - this is sport".
Jacek Bak and Piotr Swierczewski also joined the Iwan debate, Bak describing it as a "very strange" decision.
But unlike their captain, the pair did not criticise the inclusion of other members of the squad.
"I am a bit surprised to see Glowacki, Murawski, Skiba and Kucharski in the squad," Waldoch continued.
"I'm not trying to undermine their abilities, but they were not a part of the national squad for quite a time and I do not understand how their presence might improve the team".
However, despite his misgivings, Waldoch remains convinced that Poland will perform well in Korean and Japan.
"I understand the criticism on the part of fans and media after we lost the last to friendly games, but we should be judged rather on how we will perform in Korea," he said.
"When it counted [in qualifying], we trashed Ukraine in Kiev.
"Portugal are the favourites in our group, but I'm sure we will qualify," he concluded.
E-mail this story to a friend
