Dudek left out of Poland World Cup squad

WARSAW, May 15 (Reuters) - Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek was a surprise omission from Poland's 23-man World Cup squad announced today.

Dudek, whose penalty saves helped Liverpool beat AC Milan in the Champions League final last year, was left out in favour of Legia Warsaw stopper Lukasz Fabianski.

Dudek has lost his place to Pepe Reina at Liverpool and coach Pawel Janas said his lack of match practice had counted against him.

''Dudek is a very good keeper but he has played very few games and that has acted in favour of those who have been playing at club level,'' Janas told Polstar TV.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tomasz Frankowski, the team's top scorer in qualifying, and centre half and former captain Tomasz Klos were also left out.

Instead, Janas selected Wisla Krakow striker Pawel Brozek and Krakow fullback Dariusz Dudka who have only a handful of friendly caps between them.

''These players were at the heart of qualification but qualification finished a year ago,'' Janas said in explanation of his omissions.

Poland will face Germany, Costa Rica and Ecuador in World Cup Group A.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Artur Boruc (Celtic), Tomasz Kuszczak (West Bromwich Albion), Lukasz Fabianski (Legia Warsaw) Defenders: Jacek Bak (Al Rayan), Mariusz Jop (FK Moscow), Michal Zewlakow (Anderlecht), Marcin Baszczynski (Wisla Krakow), Seweryn Gancarczyk (Metallist Charkow), Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dariusz Dudka (Wisla Krakow) Midfielders: Jacek Krzynowek (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslaw Szymkowiak (Trabzonspor), Radoslaw Sobolewski (Wisla Krakow), Euzebiusz Smolarek (Borussia Dortmund), Kamil Kosowski (Southampton), Arkadiusz Radomski (Austria Vienna), Sebastian Mila (Austria Vienna), Damian Gorawski (FK Moscow), Piotr Giza (Cracovia).

Forwards: Maciej Zurawski (Celtic), Grzegorz Rasiak (Southampton), Pawel Brozek (Wisla Krakow), Ireneusz Jelen (Wisla Plock).

REUTERS PG PM0104