Robert Lewandowski © APA/afp / GEOFF CADDICK

At home: Lewandowski in the crossfire of criticism

Football star Robert Lewandowski no longer wants to play for the Polish national team under current coach Michal Probierz, the Polish daily newspaper "Rzeczpospolita" reported on Tuesday.

June 10, 2025

From: dpa

"Coach Michal Probierz informed the national team captain in a brief phone call that he was relieving him of his duties. Robert Lewandowski then wrote that he had lost confidence in the coach in this situation and would no longer play for the national team as long as he was in charge.

Probierz had met with Lewandowski three days earlier. He could have explained his decision and the reasons behind it over a cup of coffee. That would have been appropriate, because Poland's best footballer has given too much to the national team over the years to be treated with such disrespect.

Regardless of the form of the coach's statement, Lewandowski's behavior was scandalous. His statement can be understood as follows: Either I'm captain, and then I'll play, or I'm not, and then I won't play. But Lewandowski doesn't play for Probierz, but for his country's national team, which is the highest good, regardless of who is currently coaching it. The captain's armband is an additional honor that must be earned. Lewandowski has earned this honor in dozens of matches. But now he seems to have lost touch with reality.