Poland national football team's star striker Robert Lewandowski (37, Barcelona) has announced a shocking temporary retirement.
According to the British ‘BBC’ on the 9th (Korea time), Lewandowski, Poland's all-time leading scorer, expressed his intention not to play for the national team anymore after being stripped of the captaincy under coach Michał Probierz (53).
The Polish Football Association announced in an official statement on the 8th that “Coach Probierz appointed Piotr Zieliński (31, Inter Milan) as the new captain” and that “he informed Lewandowski and the entire national team, as well as the coaching staff, directly about the decision to change the captain.”
In response, Lewandowski stated through his social media account that “considering the current situation and loss of trust in the coach, I have decided not to play for the Poland national team while Coach Probierz is in charge,” adding, “I look forward to the opportunity to be with the world's best fans again.” This serves as the background for his boycott of national team call-ups.
Lewandowski is Poland's star forward, having recorded 85 goals in 158 A-match appearances. He was excluded from this June's A-match roster due to the effects of a hamstring injury.
Coach Probierz took over as the Poland national team coach in September 2023. Poland recorded the lowest rank in the Euro 2024 group stage, suffering the dishonor of being the first to be eliminated from the tournament.
However, under Coach Probierz, Poland is leading Group G, which includes the Netherlands, Finland, Lithuania, and Malta, with two consecutive victories in the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup European qualifiers. Poland will clash with Finland on the 11th.
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