The 2-1 defeat in Helsinki on Tuesday night dealt a blow to Poland’s chances of securing automatic qualification for next year’s tournament in North America.
Cezary Kulesza, head of the Polish Football Association (PZPN), said he would not fire Probierz "for now" but acknowledged the mounting pressure following a string of poor results.
Tensions escalated in recent days after Probierz stripped Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski of the captain’s armband, naming Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński as his replacement.
Lewandowski announced on Sunday he would no longer play under Probierz, citing a breakdown in trust—a stance he reiterated in an interview published on Monday.
'No decision to replace coach'
"There will be a conversation with Robert Lewandowski," Kulesza told Polish sports outlet Przeglad Sportowy on Wednesday.
He added that he, Probierz and Lewandowski would meet "if possible" to discuss the situation.
"We have time, since we’re not playing next week," Kulesza said. "For now, there’s no decision to replace the coach."
Kulesza argued that player performance, not just coaching, had contributed to the team’s struggles.
"Coach Probierz isn’t the one playing on the pitch," he said, noting that some national players have seen limited playing time with their club teams.
"If we knew where the mistakes were, we’d have fixed them already," he said. "For example, Piątek looked good in the Turkish league, but he didn’t help us on the pitch. Can the coach be blamed for Skorupski's error?"
Goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski committed a foul that led to Finland’s opening goal from a penalty in the 27th minute, despite Poland appearing to control the match early on. Striker Krzysztof Piątek also failed to make an impact up front.
Kulesza spoke after a private meeting with Probierz to discuss the team’s future direction, Przegląd Sportowy reported.
'I’m not thinking about resigning'
Probierz said at a post-match press conference in Helsinki that he had no intention of resigning.
"I understand it’s a painful loss, but I’m not thinking about resigning," he said. "I have no intention of doing so."
He told reporters: "A coach signs a contract with one hand and carries a suitcase in the other—that’s the nature of the job. But I don’t give up easily. I believe in the work we’re doing. If I’m allowed to continue, we’ll get through this."
Football chief issues apology
Following the loss, Kulesza issued a public apology and said the situation demanded action.
"I’ve always believed coaches should have the freedom to make decisions, but that freedom comes with responsibility," he said in a statement posted to social media. "This defeat and the recent turmoil surrounding the national team require a response."
He added: "These have been difficult days for Polish fans. As PZPN president, I want to apologise. I hope the future brings only positive emotions."
Fans in Helsinki voiced support for Lewandowski and directed chants of criticism at Probierz, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Asked about the reaction, Probierz said: "I’ve been in football long enough. Fans chant all sorts of things—it's part of the game. You have to live with it."
Pressed on whether he regretted removing Lewandowski as captain, Probierz replied: "At the time, I made the best decision for the team. Whether it was right or wrong is hard to judge in hindsight."
Door open for Lewandowski to return
Probierz also said he had not closed the door on Lewandowski’s return.
"Robert is an outstanding player. I didn’t shut the door on him. That decision wasn’t mine,” he said. “I still believe we can rebuild this team.”
Poland began its World Cup qualifying campaign in March with with a 1-0 home win over Lithuania, followed by a 2-0 victory against Malta.
After three rounds of qualifiers, Poland sit third in their qualifying Group G with six points. Finland lead the group with seven points from three games, followed by the Netherlands with six points from two matches.
Poland will face the Netherlands away on September 4 and host Finland on September 7 in their next World Cup qualifiers.
The top two teams in each group will qualify automatically.
The 2026 World Cup will be held in June and July next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Poland reached the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before being eliminated by eventual runners-up France.
(gs)
Source: PAP