Bartosz Bialkowski made a promise to his late father in their final conversation before he passed away in August 2015.
He has now delivered on that promise, with the goalkeeper’s first call-up to the Poland national team a realisation of a lifelong dream for Ipswich Town’s No.1, following a run of stunning form over the last two seasons.
Bialkowski’s father, Marek, passed away in August 2015 following a long illness but, in their final conversation, the Blues stopper vowed to force his way into the national team. And that’s exactly what he’s done.
The 30-year-old has dedicated his call-up to the man he has previously described as his hero, as he now prepares for friendly matches against Nigeria and South Korea later this month.
MORE: Stuart Watson’s Sunday Verdict: McCarthy badly misjudges mood of the fans as judgement day looms“It was my last chat with him and I promised him I was going to get a call-up, so it’s all for him,” Bialkowski said.
“I’ve been patient and working so hard to get that call-up so to be in the Polish squad is like a dream come true.
“I’ve always been dreaming about it and finally I’m there, so I just have to keep doing what I’ve been doing and make sure it’s not just a one off and a longer period in the team.
“I always believed and was always working hard because it has always been my dream.
“But I also knew it would be hard because there are so many good Polish keepers, although I never stopped believing.”
Bialkowski will now have a chance to stake his claim for a place in his country’s World Cup squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia, but the Pole has insisted there is still plenty to do on that front.
MORE: Milne reveals news on season tickets and McCarthy’s future will ‘come together in the next couple of weeks’“I’m not on the plane yet but I’m going to do everything I can to be there,” said Bialkowski, who kept his 11th clean sheet of the season in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Sheffield United.
“It’s up to me now and up to the manager to make the final decision, but I’m in a good place.
“I met the manager straight after the Burton game, we had a good chat and he was pleased with what he saw.
“The goalkeeper coach came over to watch me at Sheffield Wednesday and I met him before the game at the hotel and then after the game as well.
“Then the Poland manager called me on Thursday to tell me I was in the squad.”
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