There is reported joy within the Polish national team over Robert Lewandowski’s departure.
The 36-year-old striker decided to quit the national team after being stripped of the captain's armband, Idman.biz reports.
The decision to appoint a new captain was made by head coach Michal Probierz, who justified it by saying that changes were necessary:
“Robert wanted it to be officially announced that he voluntarily gave up the armband. I told him that wasn’t possible. This was my decision.”
Following this, Lewandowski declared that he had "lost trust in the coach" and announced that he would not play for the national team as long as Probierz was in charge. He later said the coach had "betrayed his trust" and that the situation had "deeply hurt" him.
However, it appears that Lewandowski won’t be missed in the squad. According to the publication Przegląd Sportowy, his decision was met with "cheers and a sense of relief" within the team. The move reportedly even increased respect for the coach among the players.
Probierz himself stated that the door to the national team hasn’t been closed for Lewandowski:
“I wish Robert all the best, but for me, the national team is the top priority. It doesn’t matter who’s in charge — the team’s benefit comes first.”
In fact, the relationship between Lewandowski and the team had been tense for some time. Back in March, he reportedly entered the dressing room, cursed at teammates and coaches, and later publicly criticized them. Other players were also unhappy with him, feeling that he placed more importance on Barcelona than the national team.
Between 2008 and 2025, Lewandowski played 158 matches for Poland, scoring 85 goals.
Idman.biz
