Jan Urban Aims To Reintegrate Robert Lewandowski Into Poland National Team Setup

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Jan Urban is set to try and persuade Robert Lewandowski to rejoin the Poland national team. This follows Michal Probierz's resignation after a dispute with the Barcelona forward. Probierz stepped down last month, having been in charge for less than two years, after Lewandowski refused to play under him.

The Polish Football Association announced on Wednesday that Urban, who was an assistant coach when Poland finished last in their group at Euro 2008, has taken over. Urban started his coaching career with Osasuna's youth teams in 1999 and has won five trophies in Poland, including a league title with Legia Warsaw in the 2012-13 season.

Urban's primary goal is to bring Lewandowski back into the team. Reports indicate that the 36-year-old striker is considering a return. "I'll do everything so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," Urban stated. "As of today, we can't afford to not have Robert in this team."

Lewandowski expressed feeling betrayed by Probierz after losing the captaincy and made himself unavailable for June's international matches. During that window, Poland defeated Moldova 2-0 but lost 2-1 to Finland in World Cup qualifiers. These results left them third in Group G, trailing Finland and the Netherlands, risking missing a major tournament for the first time since 2014.

Poland faces two vital World Cup qualifying matches in September. They will travel to face the Netherlands before hosting Finland. These games are crucial as they aim to secure a spot in upcoming major tournaments.

Lewandowski remains Poland's most-capped player and top scorer with 85 goals from 158 international appearances. Last season, he played 52 matches across all competitions for Barcelona, scoring 42 goals as Hansi Flick's side clinched LaLiga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de Espana titles.

"I won't evaluate the situation from a distance," Urban added. "But I'll definitely have the chance to speak with Robert. I won't have a problem going to talk with him." The new coach understands Lewandowski's significance and aims to resolve any issues promptly.