Robert Lewandowski Refuses to Play for Poland Under Current Coach
Robert Lewandowski has announced he will no longer represent Poland on the international stage while Michał Probierz remains head coach.
The 36-year-old Barcelona striker, who holds the national record for both appearances (158) and goals (85), cited a breakdown in trust with the coach as the reason behind his decision. Lewandowski had already withdrawn from Poland’s recent 2–0 friendly win over Moldova and the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Finland, citing fatigue after a demanding La Liga title-winning season.
In his absence, head coach Probierz named Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński as the new national team captain. The Polish Football Association confirmed the change, stating:
“Piotr ZieliÅ„ski has been named the new captain of the national team by head coach MichaÅ‚ Probierz. The coach personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team, and the coaching staff of his decision.”
Lewandowski responded on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):
“Given the circumstances and the loss of trust in the head coach of the Polish national team, I have decided to step down from playing for the national team as long as he remains in charge. I hope to return one day and play again for the best fans in the world.”
Lewandowski had recently returned from a thigh injury sustained in April during a La Liga match against Celta Vigo. The injury sidelined him for two weeks, causing him to miss four key matches, including Barcelona’s 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal. He returned for the second leg, coming off the bench in a 4-3 loss that saw Inter reach the final.
Despite the controversy, Poland currently leads Group G in World Cup qualifying with two wins from two matches.
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