Poland Planning To Entice Lewandowski Back Into NT For 2026 World Cup

Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 20:07 IST

New Poland manager Jan Urban hopes to convince Robert Lewandowski to return for key World Cup qualifiers. Urban replaces Michal Probierz, who resigned in June.

(Credit: X)

Newly appointed Poland national team manager Jan Urban has made it clear that his first mission is to convince star striker Robert Lewandowski to return to international duty ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers.

Urban officially took over on Wednesday, replacing Michal Probierz, who resigned in June amid controversy over his decision to strip Lewandowski of the captain’s armband. The fallout led to speculation that the 36-year-old Barcelona forward was considering stepping away from the national team.

Now, Urban is determined to heal that rift.

“I’ll do everything… so that Robert comes back, because we know what situation Polish football is in," he told reporters on Thursday.

“As of today, we can’t afford not to have Robert in this team."

Poland in a Tough Spot

Poland currently sit third in their World Cup qualifying group, trailing both Finland and the Netherlands. A 2-1 defeat to Finland in June added further pressure to a squad already grappling with internal uncertainty.

Urban, who steps in at a turbulent moment, acknowledged the team’s broader challenges.

“Above all, we’re talking about this difficult moment not because of the defeat to Finland. We have several problems to solve, including the matter of Robert Lewandowski’s resignation," he said.

“All of this needs to be properly sorted out to build a good atmosphere for this team to function."

Urban emphasized the need to foster unity and commitment within the squad, beginning with Lewandowski’s return.

“We’re aiming for a situation where every player wants to come to the national team and feels good being part of it."

Lewandowski is Poland’s all-time leading goalscorer, with 85 goals in 158 appearances, and is still regarded as essential to the team’s success on the international stage.

Upcoming Fixtures

Poland’s next World Cup qualifiers are crucial: they travel to face the Netherlands on September 4, followed by a home clash against Finland on September 7.

Whether Lewandowski will be part of that squad remains uncertain — but under Urban, efforts to bring him back are now firmly underway.

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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