Poland manager Michal Probierz resigns after Lewandowski refuses to play under him
Poland manager Michal Probierz has resigned after a public falling-out with captain Robert Lewandowski, who announced he would no longer play for the national team under Probierz's leadership.The dispute was sparked by Probierz's decision to strip Lewandowski of the captaincy in favour of Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski. The 36-year-old Barcelona striker revealed that he had received a brief phone call from Probierz while he was putting his children to bed, and shortly afterwards, an official statement announcing the change appeared on the Polish Football Association (PZPN) website.advertisementSpeaking to a Polish news outlet, Lewandowski - Poland's record goalscorer with 85 goals in 158 appearances - said he felt betrayed and deeply hurt by the manner in which the decision was communicated.
"After so many years of dedication, I believe I deserved more respect. This should have been discussed face to face," he said.On Sunday, Lewandowski declared that he would not return to the national team as long as Probierz remained in charge. He also missed Poland's 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to Finland on Tuesday and their 2-0 friendly win over Moldova on Friday, citing physical and mental exhaustion following a long club season.Probierz, who succeeded Fernando Santos as manager in 2023, led Poland to Euro 2024, but his side became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament. Despite this setback, Poland currently sit third in Group G of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with six points from three matches-just one behind group leaders Finland.advertisementIn a statement announcing his resignation, Probierz said:"I have come to the conclusion that, in the current situation, the best decision for the good of the national team is my resignation. Serving as national coach was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream and the greatest honour of my professional career."The Polish Football Association expressed its gratitude, stating:"The Polish Football Association would like to thank Michal Probierz for his cooperation and dedication in leading the national team. We wish him every success in his future endeavours."Poland's next World Cup qualifier is a challenging away fixture against the Netherlands on 4 September. With Probierz's departure and Lewandowski's international future in doubt, the national team faces a period of uncertainty at a crucial stage in their qualifying campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Virat Kohli predicted Aiden Markram's future 7 years ago. Old tweet resurfaces after South Africa opener hits WTC ton
Virat Kohli is a man of many talents. Predicting the future isn't one of them. Or is it? Fans started to double-check after Kohli's seven-year-old tweet on Aiden Markram resurfaced after the South African batter played one of the best knocks of his career to bring the Proteas inches closer to their maiden World Test Championship title and the first ICC trophy in nearly 30 years. The last time South Africa won an ICC tournament was back in 1998, lifting the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh. They still need 72 runs to beat Australia but with eight wickets in hand, including that of a rock-solid Markram, batting on 102, it looks ever so likely that South Africa will bring an end to their long wait for an ICC trophy. Kohli's admiration for South African batters is nothing new. Legendary South African cricketer AB de Villiers is one of his best friends on and off the field. Of course, it helped that they played together for RCB for more than a decade, forming one of the most beautiful cross-border bonds that cricket has seen but it's no coincidence that Kohli's favourite captain is another South African, Faf du Plessis. During the all-captains meeting before the start of the 2019 ODI World Cup, Kohli was asked to pick one cricketer from any participating team in that World Cup that he would pick to play for his side, and he had no hesitation in naming du Plessis. It was therefore no surprise when RCB bought him in the auction and also named him captain after Kohli decided to step down in 2021. Markram is the latest addition to Kohli's fondness for South African batters. Markram, who made his Test and ODI debut in 2017, drew Kohli's attention a year later. He had already hit three Test centuries, but it was his 84-run knock in the second innings of the Test match at Cape Town against Australia that really caught Kohli's eye. "Aiden Markram is a delight to watch!" wrote Kohli on X (then Twitter). Seven years and three months later, the same tweet went viral when Markram put South Africa on the brink of the WTC title. In pursuit of 282, which currently stands as the second highest successful fourth innings chase in a Test at Lord's, an unbroken third-wicket stand of 143 took the Proteas to the close on 213 for two, requiring a further 69 to be crowned champions. Australia had earlier looked to hold the upper hand after Mitchell Starc's gritty half-century extended their overnight lead, while the seamer later took the two South African wickets to fall. But Markram, who will resume on 102, and Bavuma, dropped on two by Steve Smith, played brilliantly to raise South African hopes of a first ICC trophy since 1998. Markram survived a heart-in-mouth moment on 23, nicking a Cummins delivery between the keeper and first slip. Since then, the South African opener grew in confidence. Makram hit 11 fours in his fluent knock, scoring a strike rate of 102 off 159 balls. He got to his century with a flick off his pads that raced away to the boundary right at the fag end of Day 3. Did Kohli predict something like this for Aiden Markram? He certainly could not have but as they say, class is permanent and Kohli, like most other greats of the game, identified that very early.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Five things to look out for as Club World Cup kicks off
Despite concerns over ticket sales and player fatigue, FIFA's new expanded Club World Cup will throw up several intriguing storylines this summer in the United States. AFP Sport picks five things to look out for on the pitch as teams compete to conquer the world and claim their share of $1 billion in prize money. Former Barcelona great Lionel Messi has spent the last two seasons at MLS side Inter Miami but the Club World Cup pits him against European opposition once again. The 37-year-old superstar still possesses supreme quality but there are question marks over whether he and former top level stars Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets can seriously compete against the cream of the crop. Inter Miami face Porto in their second group match in Atlanta, a team Messi has faced once before, beating them with Barca in the UEFA Super Cup back in 2011. Messi also featured against Porto in a friendly with Barca back in 2003, which was his first ever appearance for the club at 16 years old. If he nets at the tournament, Messi would become the oldest ever Club World Cup goalscorer, while both he and Suarez trail the competition's all-time top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo, by two goals. Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League final romp over Inter Milan was inspired by thrilling forward Desire Doue, who turned 20 earlier in June. His spectacular burst into the limelight over the past few months means he is one of the players to watch this summer at the Club World Cup. He struck twice in the final against Inter as well as setting up another goal and drew comparisons to Spanish starlet Lamine Yamal, who will not be playing this summer as Barcelona did not qualify. PSG's opening clash against Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles immediately gives Doue another stage to shine on as the world at large continues to discover his immense talent. Pep Guardiola's Manchester City endured a poor season by their lofty standards and immediately took action in the special transfer window to bolster their squad for the Club World Cup. The Abu Dhabi-owned club have already splashed more than £100 million on Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki. With holding midfielder Rodri also returning to fitness after injury, City are hoping they can step up their game significantly. French 21-year-old attacking midfielder Cherki is an exciting talent looking to show his quality at the top level. "I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction," said City's director of football Hugo Viana. While Europe's elite are at the end of a long, hard season, South American clubs are midway through their campaigns and will be energised. They have long revered the competition to a far greater degree than European sides, as it represents the chance to face the very best teams in the world. Fans who do not regularly follow South American football can look forward to discovering some of the most exciting emerging talents in the world. River Plate's Argentine playmaker Franco Mastantuono will join Real Madrid after the tournament, while Chelsea-bound striker Estevao Willian is hoping to end his time at Brazilian side Palmeiras with a bang. Atletico Madrid ended the season trophyless despite looking like potential contenders in Spain and Europe. Diego Simeone's side are proud of having reached the tournament ahead of La Liga rivals Barcelona and the coach has not hidden his desire to succeed this summer. "I hope we can advance in the Club World Cup and lead Atletico Madrid to a privileged position," said Simeone. Atletico have not won a single trophy since lifting La Liga in 2021 and their last success outside of Spanish football came in 2018 with Europa League and UEFA Super Cup wins. Their elimination by Real Madrid in the Champions League after Julian Alvarez's controversial 'double-touch' penalty was disallowed sent them into a spiral, which they only managed to shake off in the final weeks of the season, after their chances of success had vanished.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
Cricket-South Africa look to discard chokers tag as WTC glory beckons
LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - Following decades of falling agonisingly short of success, South African cricket sits on the cusp of a first major triumph with 69 runs needed to win the World Test Championship at Lord's on Saturday. South Africa have eight wickets in hand and are now overwhelming favourites to finish off the job, and take the title away from champions Australia, who had set them a daunting fourth innings target of 282 in the final on Friday. Led by Aiden Markram's unbeaten century, they doggedly chased down the runs and will be looking to get over the line when action resumes on day four on Saturday. But, at the same time, the Class of 2025 will be only too aware that past South African teams have been labelled 'chokers' for consistently coming up short when victory is in sight. Therefore, the first thing coach Shukri Conrad said to Markram and captain Temba Bavuma after their unbeaten 143-run partnership on Friday was to ensure they stuck to their usual routine. 'Don't change a thing. Tomorrow morning, come and do the same warm up that you do every day. Just the same processes,' he told them. Assistant coach Ashwill Prince was determined not to get too excited about the potential win, even if it is tantalisingly close. 'We obviously understand the magnitude of the situation and what's at stake. But they've just got to stay calm and take it in their stride,' he said at the end of Friday's play. South African cricket's reputation comes from a long list of near-misses in World Cup semi-finals, including falling foul to a now-discredited rain rule or coming off second best even when the match ended up tied. Last year they reached their first major final at the Twenty20 World Cup in Barbados, but with only 26 runs needed off the last four overs, fell seven runs short as India snatched an unlikely victory. For this team, the message has been clear, added Prince. 'Make them believe that they can do it, and then just sort of step out of the way and allow them to go and do it,' he said. 'But there is a very right bond in that change room. They are willing each other over the line,' Prince added. (Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
