Tomasz Kuszczak - International Career

International Career

Kuszczak had also played two international matches by this time, his debut coming on 11 December 2003 against Malta. Poland won the away game 4–0.

Due to his impressive performances for West Bromwich Albion, although the club was ultimately relegated, he was called up to the 23-man Poland national football team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, in a World Cup warm-up match between Poland and Colombia on 30 May 2006, he conceded a goal directly from a long punt by the opposition goalkeeper, Neco Martínez. Kuszczak subsequently ended up as Artur Boruc's back-up during the tournament and did not play.

In May 2008, Kuszczak was named in Poland's squad for UEFA Euro 2008, but was forced to drop out after picking up a back injury. Kuszczak was replaced by Wojciech Kowalewski. A lack of club football at Manchester United had also seen him slide down the pecking order for his country of late, but he was recalled to the squad for the friendly matches against Romania and Canada by new coach Franciszek Smuda, playing in both matches with mixed results. Recently, Tomasz revealed he was called up on 4 September to play against Montenegro and Moldova in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA), filling in for injured first choice Goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczęsny. Although becoming an unused substitute in the first game against Montenegro on 7 September, a 2–2 draw in Podgorica, Montenegro. This was the same outcome for the next qualifier, a 2–0 win over Moldova in Wroclaw. Tomasz was again called up by Fornalik for the friendly game at Home to South Africa (12 October) and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against his club based Country, England (16 October). He was tipped to start against South Africa but Fornalik opted with Przemyslaw Tyton after becoming out of the fold at PSV Eindhoven. This game ended as a 1–0 win for the Poles. Tomasz's only chance to play against England was if Tyton's ankle injury got worse, it didn't. The game against England was a waterlogged pitch after hours of delay. The game was played the following day at 4pm UK time. Wayne Rooney opened the scoring for England before a fairly late equalizer by Kmail Glik to end a 'farce' in Warsaw. Although, Tomasz came on at half-time in the international friendly vs Uraguay, which was currently 2-0 Uraguay.