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Lewandowski quits Poland after 'loss of trust' in coach

Lewandowski quits Poland after 'loss of trust' in coach

BBC News5 hours ago

Poland's record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski says he will not play for his country while Michal Probierz is manager after being replaced as captain.The 36-year-old striker has 85 goals in 158 appearances for his country but is not part of his national team's squad during the current international window.A statement from the Polish FA, external on Sunday said Probierz had "personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team and the training staff of his decision" to appoint Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski as the new captain.Following this decision, Barcelona's Lewandowski wrote on social media: "Taking into account the circumstances and a loss of trust in the coach, I have decided to resign from playing for the Poland national team for as long as he remains in charge.
"I hope I will still have another chance to play again for the best fans in the world."The Poland FA also said, external Probierz will answer questions at a news conference on Monday prior to Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Finland, and will be joined by Zielinski, 31.Probierz, 52, took over as coach in September 2023 but his side finished bottom of their group at Euro 2024 as they became the first country to be knocked out of the tournament.However, Poland are top of their World Cup 2026 qualifying group after two wins from as many games, with Netherlands third on three points after one game.

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

June 9 (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 Michal Probierz, 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.

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