Actor no longer works under Polish coaching guidance.
Munich's Shock Decision: Lewandowski Bombshell during Nations League Final
Football fans at the Nations League final in Munich were left speechless when during halftime, Robert Lewandowski made a surprising announcement. The Polish superstar declared via his social media that he would no longer represent the country under current coach Michal Probierz.
Lewandowski took to his X-account, stating, "Fed up with the circumstances and the loss of trust in the coach of the Polish national team, I've decided to cease my involvement. As long as he's at the helm, I won't play. I fervently hope for another opportunity to play for the most passionate fans in the world."
A Captaincy Stumble Triggers a Resignation
Right before Lewandowski announced his resignation, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) made headlines by revoking Lewandowski's captaincy. In their statement, they announced Piotr Zielinski as the new captain.
Though it might seem that Lewandowski was irate due to losing his title, the tension between the national coach and the superstar has been pervasive for quite some time. Over the past few days, Lewandowski opted out of a friendly game against Moldova and a World Cup qualifier against Finland.
The official reason for Lewandowski's absence was fatigue following a draining season with Barcelona and recent health setbacks. However, the decision to be absent from an important Finland match did not sit well with coach Probierz at all. Their differences from the start have culminated in Probierz's decision favoring Zielinski and against Lewandowski, which proved to be the final straw.
A Former Schalke Player's Misunderstanding
Former FC Schalke 04 player Tomasz Hajto cannot fathom Lewandowski's decision. He expressed his views to RevierSport, stating, "No player is greater than the national team. Regardless of how talented they are, they respect Hans Flick's decisions, even when they're benched."
The upcoming days and weeks will show how PZPN boss Cezary Kulesza reacts to the situation. As a close friend of Probierz, he is also aware of the significance of Lewandowski to the Polish football nation. To date, he has played 158 games for Poland and scored 85 goals, both record figures.
Though it has been made clear by Lewandowski that he will not play for Poland as long as the current coach remains, the possibility of a return under different leadership still exists. Reports suggest that coach Probierz has not closed the door for a potential comeback, and Lewandowski himself has not retired officially from international football[1][4]. He expressed his desire to potentially rejoin the team, further signaling that his withdrawal is conditioned on the current leadership situation rather than a permanent retirement from international football[4].
[1] German media speculates on Poland threats to Lewandowski at World Cup qualifiers
[2] Lewandowski storms out of Poland camp in protest of coach
[3] Lewandowski Snubs Poland captaincy, vows to end international career
[4] Lewandowski 'out of love with' Poland, but door not shut for return – sources
- In light of the tension between Robert Lewandowski and Michal Probierz, it's quite possible that the Polish superstar might focus on other ventures such as the Champions League or other European leagues, given his internal disagreements with the national coach.
- Despite Lewandowski's current decision to step back from the Polish national team, speculations persist that he might reconsider his choice if there's a change in leadership, allowing him to possibly continue his exceptional career in international football.
