Poland's national football team faces upheaval as coach Michal Probierz resigned abruptly on Thursday following a public dispute with star striker Robert Lewandowski. The conflict stemmed from Probierz's decision to strip Lewandowski of the captaincy ahead of key World Cup qualifiers.
Lewandowski, 36, criticized the coach's handling of the leadership change, revealing he received a brief phone call about the decision while putting his children to bed. The Barcelona forward expressed frustration over the timing and lack of dialogue, calling it 'hurtful' in an interview with a Polish news site. The Polish Football Association (PZPN) later confirmed Zielinski as the new captain via an official statement.
'Performing this function was the fulfillment of my professional dreams,' Probierz said in his resignation announcement, acknowledging the need for change to protect team unity. His tenure began in 2023 after replacing Fernando Santos, leading Poland to UEFA Euro 2024 before an early exit.
With Poland currently third in their World Cup qualifying group and a critical match against the Netherlands approaching on September 4, the resignation raises questions about the team's stability. Analysts suggest the leadership vacuum could impact Poland's chances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they trail group leaders Finland by one point.
