Lewandowski to stay on as Polish captain
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
10.12.2014 11:03
Trainer of the Polish football team Adam Nawalka has announced that Robert Lewandowski will stay on as captain of the side despite the imminent return of his injury-stricken predecessor Jakub Blaszczykowski.
Lewandowski. Photo: wikipedia
''Having played this year's [Euro 2016] qualifying matches and given deeper consideration to work with the side, my choice of team captain is Robert Lewandowski,'' Nawalka said in an interview with laczynaspilka.pl, the website of the Polish Football Association (PZPN).
Under the leadership of the star Bayern striker Poland won three qualifying matches for Euro 2016, including a sensational 2:0 victory against Germany in Warsaw.
''Robert showed in those difficult qualifying matches that he had quickly become a true leader of the team,'' Nawalka said.
In October 2013, when Nawalka took over as trainer, the coach announced that Blaszczykowski, who had captained the team through Euro 2012, would continue at the helm.
Nawalka said that it was right that the captaincy should remain in the hands of the player with the most caps.
However, Blaszczykowski missed the whole of 2014 owing to injury.
''During my last visit to Germany, I met and talked with Jakub Blaszczykowski,'' Nawalka revealed.
''I informed him of my decision on the captaincy.
''I'm very much relying on his return to the white and red team,'' he said, adding that with Blaszczykowski ''we are a better team.''
It is hoped that the former captain will play in Poland's next Euro 2016 qualifying match against Ireland on 29 March 2015. (nh)