Lewandowski Steps Down From Poland National Team Due To Trust Issues With Coach Probierz

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Robert Lewandowski, the Barcelona striker, has declared he will not represent Poland while Michal Probierz is the coach. Earlier this week, Lewandowski cited both physical and mental fatigue as reasons for his absence from the national team during the current international window.

Lewandowski, who is 36, played 52 matches across all competitions under Hansi Flick's management. He scored 42 goals and helped secure three trophies, including the LaLiga title. Despite his contributions, Poland's head coach Probierz decided to replace him as captain. Piotr Zielinski from Inter was given the captaincy for their two international games this month.

Zielinski successfully led Poland to a 2-0 win over Moldova in a friendly match on Friday. They are set to face Finland in a World Cup qualifier this Tuesday. Meanwhile, Lewandowski has announced his temporary retirement from international football but hinted at a possible return soon.

"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," Lewandowski posted on social media. "I hope I will still have the chance to play again for the best fans in the world."

Lewandowski missed Barcelona's Champions League semi-final first-leg draw with Inter due to a hamstring injury. He also sat out their Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid. However, he returned for Barca's final three league matches, scoring twice as they secured their 28th Spanish top-flight title.

Despite recovering from injury, Lewandowski chose not to join Poland for their recent international fixtures. "Returning from injury, I told Coach Probierz that I did not feel good physically, but especially mentally," Lewandowski told Polish media earlier this week.

Record-Breaking Achievements

Lewandowski holds the record for most appearances with 158 caps for Poland. He is also their all-time leading scorer with 85 goals. His decision to step back reflects both personal considerations and professional disagreements with the current coaching staff.

The situation highlights ongoing tensions within the Polish national team setup. Fans remain hopeful that Lewandowski might return once conditions align more favourably for him.