Robert Lewandowski has introduced he’ll now not play for Poland so long as head coach Michal Probierz stays in cost.
The 36-year-old star striker, who has captained the nationwide crew since 2014 and is Poland’s all-time prime scorer with 85 objectives in 158 appearances, took to social media Sunday evening with a transparent message: His belief within the coach has been damaged.
“Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the national team coach, I have decided to step back from playing for Poland while he remains in office,” Lewandowski posted on X.
The resolution got here hours after Probierz stripped Lewandowski of the captaincy, handing the armband to midfielder Piotr Zielinski.
According to the Polish Football Association (PZPN), Probierz personally knowledgeable Lewandowski, the squad and the teaching employees of the change.
Lewandowski’s absence from Poland’s present squad had already raised eyebrows.
The Barcelona ahead cited psychological and bodily exhaustion after an extended membership season and is sitting out Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier towards Finland.
But the fallout over the captaincy has now escalated tensions right into a full-blown standoff.
“I hope I’ll have the chance to play again for the best fans in the world,” Lewandowski added, hinting at a potential return – however solely after a managerial change.
Probierz, who changed Fernando Santos in 2023, led Poland to Euro 2024 however noticed the crew grow to be the primary to crash out. Poland beat Moldova 2-0 in a pleasant Friday however face sterner exams forward, with out their largest identify.
The PZPN mentioned Probierz will handle the Lewandowski saga in a press convention on Monday.
Source: www.dailysabah.com