Lewandowski boycotting Poland after captain snub

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has announced helium volition not play for the Poland nationalist squad for arsenic agelong arsenic manager Michał Probierz remains successful charge.

Lewandowski, 36, cited "physical and intelligence tiredness" astatine the extremity of a agelong play with Barça arsenic the crushed for making himself unavailable for his state during the existent planetary window.

As a result, Probierz opted to regenerate Lewandowski arsenic Poland captain, with Internazionale's Piotr Zieliński handed the role.

Lewandowski has subsequently announced helium is stepping distant from planetary football, though helium has near the model unfastened to return.

"Taking into relationship the circumstances and a nonaccomplishment of spot successful the coach, I person decided to resign from playing for the Poland nationalist squad for arsenic agelong arsenic helium remains successful charge," the seasoned guardant posted connected social media.

"I anticipation I volition inactive person the accidental to play again for the champion fans successful the world."

Lewandowski missed cardinal games astatine the extremity of the nine play with a hamstring injury, including the Champions League semifinal against Inter and the Copa del Rey last against Real Madrid.

He did instrumentality to diagnostic successful the last 3 games of the campaign, scoring doubly arsenic Barça clinched LaLiga, but opted against joining up with Poland for a affable against Moldova and a World Cup qualifier against Finland this month.

"Returning from injury, I told manager Probierz that I did not consciousness bully physically, but particularly mentally," Lewandowski told Polish media earlier this week.

Lewandowski has won much caps (158) and scored much goals (85) than anyone other successful the past of the Polish nationalist team.

Poland person won their opening 2 qualifiers successful Group G up of Tuesday's crippled against Finland arsenic they look to publication their spot astatine the World Cup successful North America adjacent year.

Probierz has been successful complaint of the squad since 2023, erstwhile helium replaced predecessor Fernando Santos aft impressing during a abbreviated stint successful complaint of the country's U21 team.

He led Poland to Euro 2024 past summer, wherever they exited the contention successful the radical signifier aft failing to triumph a game.