WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The coach of Poland's national soccer team announced Thursday has resigned as head coach, days after a spat with star striker Robert Lewandowski.
“I have come to the conclusion that, given the current situation, the best decision for the good of the national team is my resignation from the position of head coach,” Michał Probierz said in a statement published by the Polish Football Association.
Probierz stripped Barcelona striker Lewandowski of his position as team captain on the eve of a World Cup qualifier against Finland earlier this week, and named Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński as the new captain.
Lewandowski reacted by saying he would no longer play for the national team as long as Probierz remains head coach. Poland went on to suffer an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Finland, to put its qualifications hopes into jeopardy.
The 36-year-old Lewandowski, who has played a record 158 games for his country and is the leading scorer with 85 goals, is arguably the most outstanding player in the history of Polish soccer.
Lewandowski pulled out of last Friday's friendly over Moldova, citing tiredness from a La Liga title-winning season with Barcelona.
Probierz, who took over in September 2023 after the disappointing tenure of Fernando Santos, managed to secure qualification for the 2024 European Championship but has since struggled.
The Polish Football Association’s president, Cezary Kulesza, had summoned Probierz on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
“I give coaches a lot of freedom, but with that comes responsibility. I expect results, first and foremost," Kulesza said. “These were difficult days for the fans of the national team."
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FILE - Poland's Robert Lewandowski, right, walks by Poland' head coach Michal Probierz, left, during a Group D match between Poland and Austria at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Friday, June 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr Josek, File)
BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich scored with the last kick of the game to salvage a 3-3 draw with last-place Heidenheim in the Bundesliga before it welcomes Paris Saint-Germain for the second leg of their Champions League semifinal.
Michael Olise struck the post for Bayern and the ball bounced off Heidenheim goalkeeper Diant Ramaj’s back into the net for the equalizer in the 10th minute of stoppage time on Saturday.
It was the third straight game that Bayern trailed at halftime, including its 5-4 loss to PSG in the first leg of their semifinal on Tuesday, and last weekend’s 4-3 win in Mainz, where the already crowned Bundesliga champion faced a three-goal deficit.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany made seven changes to the team that started against PSG with Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz and Harry Kane all on the substitutes’ bench.
Heidenheim’s Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci scored before Leon Goretzka pulled one back with a free kick before the break, and Kompany sent on Kane, Díaz, Olise and Kimmich for the second half.
Goretzka leveled with his second goal in the 57th, Zivzivadze scored again to restore Heidenheim’s lead in the 76th, only for Olise to force the equalizer.
The draw leaves Heidenheim on the verge of relegation.
Union Berlin fought back to draw 2-2 with Cologne for its first point under new coach Marie-Louise Eta, the first female head coach in the league.
Tom Rothe pulled one back after a corner in the 73rd and substitute Livan Burcu let fly for what seemed for the home fans like a winner in the 89th, after Marius Bülter and Said El Mala had scored for Cologne.
The draw kept Union a point above Cologne and will probably be enough for survival.
Hoffenheim drew with Stuttgart 3-3 in their duel for Champions League qualification, and Hamburger SV won 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt to move a point above Union.
Augsburg won 3-1 at Werder Bremen.
Bayer Leverkusen was hosting Leipzig later for another duel with Champions League qualification at stake.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Union Berlin's Tom Rothe, third from left, scores his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Köln. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)
Union Berlin's Tom Rothe, left, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and 1. FC Köln. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)
Bayern's Leon Goretzka celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)
Bayern's Joshua Kimmich, left, and Harry Kane react during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)
Bayern's Harry Kane retrieves the ball from the goal after the 3:3 during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 2, 2026. (Harry Langer/dpa via AP)
