logo
Lewandowski will not play for Poland under current coach after losing captaincy

Lewandowski will not play for Poland under current coach after losing captaincy

The Star3 days ago

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group G - Poland v Malta - Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland - March 24, 2025 Poland's Robert Lewandowski during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File photo
(Reuters) -Robert Lewandowski said he will not play for Poland again under the current manager, shortly after the striker was stripped of the captaincy role on Sunday.
Poland coach Michal Probierz made the decision to replace Lewandowski as national team captain with midfielder Piotr Zielinski.
"By decision of coach MichalProbierz, Piotr Zielinski became the new captain of the Polish national team," a Polish football federation (PZPN) statement said.
"The coach personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team and the training staff of his decision."
Lewandowski's response via social media was swift.
"Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the Polish national team coach, I have decided to step back from playing for the Polish national team as long as he remains the coach," Lewandowski said.
"I hope I will have the chance to play again for the best fans in the world."
Lewandowski is not with the current Poland squad, with the Barcelona player citing physical and mental exhaustion after a long season as the reason for his absence.
The 36-year-old is Poland's highest goal scorer with 85 goals for his country in a record 158 appearances,and had held the captaincy since 2014.
Probierz replaced the sacked Fernando Santos as Poland manager in 2023, taking them to Euro 2024 where his side were the first team to be eliminated.
The PZPN said Probierz will respond to questions on the situation in a press conference on Monday.
Poland defeated Moldova 2-0 in a friendly on Friday and are away to Finland in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Chris Reese)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Apathy and anger cloud US men's team as Pochettino's side slump ahead of home World Cup
Apathy and anger cloud US men's team as Pochettino's side slump ahead of home World Cup

Malay Mail

time2 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

Apathy and anger cloud US men's team as Pochettino's side slump ahead of home World Cup

MIAMI, June 12 — A run of four straight losses, including a 4-0 hammering from Switzerland yesterday, has left Mauricio Pochettino and his USA team feeling the wrath of critics a year out from the World Cup they will co-host. The USA head into their opening game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday having lost on home soil to Panama and Canada in the Nations League in March before friendly losses to Turkey and the debacle against the Swiss. "I think it is the most embarrassed I have been for the US national team in a long time," said Kasey Keller, who played in goal for the USA 102 times between 1990 and 2007. While there were plenty of American fans venting similar feelings on social media after the loss, what will perhaps be more concerning for the US Soccer Federation is supporters voting with their feet and not attending games. There were thousands of empty seats in Nashville for the Switzerland defeat after poor turn-outs for March's games in Los Angeles. "There's just a sense of apathy around the United States men's program and I don't think that's a hot take," former striker Taylor Twellman told NBC Sports. Alexi Lalas, a star of the USA team the last time they hosted a World Cup in 1994, has built a career in 'hot takes' for Fox Sports but even he was struggling to fire himself up for a Star Spangled rant after the latest disappointment. "I'm having a hard time even conjuring up that and that makes a little sad. In the past when I was angry at what was going on, I felt compelled to express it and now they are not even worth that, not worth me expressing how disappointing this is right now," he said on his podcast 'State of the Union'. Pochettino has been forced to field a largely second string squad in this month's games with the likes of Tim Weah and Weston McKennie on Club World Cup duty with Juventus while captain and talisman Christian Pulisic has opted to take some rest along with some other members of the first choice squad. That latter decision prompted fierce criticism from some ex-players, including Landon Donovan, the country's all-time joint top scorer who during commentary of Portugal's win in the UEFA Nations League hit out at the absentees. "[Ronaldo is] 40 years old. He's played a long-ass season. He's tired. He's out there grinding. Hurt himself in the process, and I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off," he said. That led to a sarcastic reply on social media from Pulisic's father Mark who posted a reminder of Donovan's own 'sabbatical' from the USA team. Pressure But there is also pressure mounting on Pochettino, the Argentine former Tottenham Hotspur manager, who was appointed to the USA role in September. The coach said he would take the blame for the showing against Switzerland where the USA were 4-0 down by half-time. "It's my responsibility the choice of the starting 11. I wanted to give minutes to certain players, but we were never in the game," the Argentine said. While Pochettino's job may be safe, some are wondering if he might not need some assistance. "It looks like he doesn't know the team, it looks like he doesn't scout the players, has no idea of the pieces he has at his disposal," said former USA forward Hercules Gomez on You Tube. "The US Soccer Federation, why not place somebody who has some experience with the player pool to help Pochettino out because it looks like he has no idea who his players are? With a World Cup on home soil that is a disaster," he added. The USA will co-host the World Cup with Mexico and Canada. — AFP

2026 World Cup Cities Face Fan Concerns Over U.S. Policies
2026 World Cup Cities Face Fan Concerns Over U.S. Policies

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

2026 World Cup Cities Face Fan Concerns Over U.S. Policies

U.S. CITIES hosting next year's FIFA World Cup faced questions on Wednesday about how to reassure international fans concerned by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and travel ban as the year-to-go countdown began. The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, is set to co-host the finals, which will feature 48 teams and a record 104 matches in a tournament that FIFA boss Gianni Infantino said would usher in a new generation of soccer fans. Celebrities and soccer stars were due to walk the red carpet at the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles - one of the host cities - for the year-to-go event there, a day after President Trump deployed Marines and the National Guard to quell protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom described the deployment as an 'unmistakable step toward authoritarianism,' while Trump officials defended it and branded the protests as lawless, blaming local and state Democrats for permitting upheaval. Los Angeles is one of several host cities marking the year-to-go occasion. New York-New Jersey held a waterside party on Wednesday, where local officials and fans celebrated against the backdrop of Ellis Island. Asked about comments Vice President JD Vance made last month warning World Cup travellers not to overstay their welcome, New York-New Jersey host Committee CEO Alex Lasry said: 'Our goal is to make sure everyone who comes to New York-New Jersey has an incredible time.' 'Something that you have to kind of know, when you're putting on mega sporting events ... is the world is still going on. The world doesn't stop for these sporting events,' said Lasry. 'And you kind of have to go with the flow and make sure that you're able to adapt.' Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said FIFA needed to work with the U.S. government to ensure the rights of competitors, support staff, fans and media were protected regardless of their identities or views. 'FIFA should publicly acknowledge the threat US immigration and other anti-human rights policies pose to the tournament's integrity ... (and) should establish clear benchmarks and timelines for the US policy changes needed to ensure respect for immigrants' rights during the 2026 World Cup and beyond,' she said. U.S. Democratic leaders raised concerns over a national crisis on Tuesday as Trump moved U.S. Marines into Los Angeles to tackle civilian protests over his immigration policies. 'There are certainly things that are happening at the national level, the international level, there are going to be geopolitical issues that we don't even know right now that are going to affect the tournament,' Meg Kane, a host city executive for Philadelphia told reporters at a Paley Center event on Monday. 'So we recognise that we're planning within uncertainty.' FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Infantino confident FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last month after meeting Trump that he was confident the world would be welcomed in for the 2026 World Cup and this year's Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13. But the task of reassuring international fans was complicated by a travel ban that went into effect on Monday, cracking down on what Trump called 'foreign terrorists'. Of the 12 countries facing travel bans, Iran is the only one that has qualified for the 2026 tournament so far. Tehran said on Saturday that the ban showed 'deep hostility' toward Iranians and Muslims. European fans, supporter groups and former players contacted by Reuters said it was too early for anyone to be thinking about revising schedules or reevaluating plans for attending the World Cup. Alina Hudak, the Miami host committee president and CEO, told Reuters she had been in touch with the local consular corps to address their concerns and to offer support. 'My responsibility is to make sure that we're ready, that we're safe, that we're coordinating logistically with all of our law enforcement agencies, that we've done everything we can to ensure that our mass transit system is ready and can handle the volume,' said Hudak. 'And so for me, you know, what's happening outside of that is something that we're monitoring, but not something that, quite frankly, I have an impact (on).' (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, additional reporting by Andrew Hoffstetter in Jersey City and Lori Ewing in Manchester; Editing by Toby Davis and Philippa Fletcher)

Tuchel Open to Extending England Role Beyond 2026 World Cup
Tuchel Open to Extending England Role Beyond 2026 World Cup

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

Tuchel Open to Extending England Role Beyond 2026 World Cup

THOMAS TUCHEL suggested he is tempted to seek a contract extension as England manager beyond the 2026 World Cup up to the 2028 European Championship, despite his team drawing criticism for recent poor performances. Tuchel, whose contract runs through the end of the World Cup, suffered his first defeat in four games as manager in a 3-1 loss to Senegal in a friendly on Tuesday, in which the Senegalese became the first African nation to beat England. 'I will always be tempted to stay because I love the group and the opportunity, it's an honour to be England coach,' Tuchel said in an interview with radio station Talksport on Wednesday. 'I can tell you that even after the disappointment yesterday. 'If you ask me today, yes. I am enjoying it, I feel the support, trust and respect of people in the FA. I wanted a new challenge and environment.' The 51-year-old conceded to little enjoyment, however, in the hours after Tuesday's game at the City Ground where Senegal repeatedly punished England's lacklustre defence. 'I'm not very good, I didn't sleep well after last night. I'm disappointed, it was a short night, we hate to lose,' Tuchel said. 'The way we lost, losing at home, didn't make me sleep well.' The German said England lacked joy and energy, which was also evident in their 1-0 win over Andorra in World Cup qualifying on Saturday. 'I am trying now and still we feel we are lacking the enthusiasm and joy consistently at international level,' he said. 'I think it's massively about connections that the team generates, that we have joy in playing together. 'Senegal arrived with the objective to win and to make history. Would we have had the same joy as them if we won? I don't think so. 'Celebrate the goals more, be more happy, create an environment where the players feel they can express their joy more lively. Or is it just not in us? Is it a way of lifestyle connected to different cultures?' Tuchel will travel to the United States next week to begin preparations for next summer's World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, looking at factors such as heat adaptation.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store