Lewandowski exit celebrated by Poland team

 WHAT HAPPENED?

Lewandowski has lost the support of his Poland team-mates following a public fallout with head coach Michal Probierz, according to Przeglad Sportowy. The Barcelona striker declared he will not feature for the national team under the current boss after being stripped of his candidacy, bringing an end to his national team career. Sources close to the squad claim the decision was met with applause and relief by several players and earned new respect for the manager.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Lewandowski's strained relationship with the squad had reportedly deteriorated over time, with multiple internal issues affecting trust. The tension intensified in March after a 2-0 win against Malta. Lewandowski is said to have stormed into the locker room and berated the coaching staff and his team-mates, later going public with his criticism. Other players were reportedly already angry at him, feeling he had put Barcelona ahead of the national team before the game.

WHAT LEWANDOWSKI SAID

Lewandowski made his declaration via social media, saying on X: "Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the coach of the Polish National Team, I decided to resign from playing in the Polish National Team until he is the coach. I hope that I will be able to play for the best fans in the world again."

WHAT NEXT FOR POLAND?

With Lewandowski out of the picture, head coach Probierz will continue to implement his vision, likely focusing on younger players such as Jakub Kaminski and Nicola Zalewski. Poland will face Finland in a crucial World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, with Zielinski set to lead the team.