Poland manager Jan Urban has ended the speculation surrounding Robert Lewandowski by including the veteran striker in his latest squad. However, the decision to leave out 19-year-old Bartosz Mazurek has attracted almost as much attention as the captain’s return.
Mazurek has made a promising start since moving abroad and had been considered a strong candidate for a first senior call-up. Urban has instead turned to several other young players as Poland prepare for an unusually demanding run of four Nations League matches in just 11 days.
Lewandowski included despite questions over workload
There was little doubt that Lewandowski would be selected, but it remains unclear how heavily Urban intends to use the Chicago Fire striker during the international window.
“Robert is coming, he will be with us, but we do not know what will happen during the camp,” Urban said, as quoted by Przegląd Sportowy Onet.
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The manager has already made it clear that Lewandowski will not complete all four matches. Poland’s captain is expected to have his minutes carefully managed before returning to the United States.
Karol Świderski, Adrian Benedyczak and Mateusz Żukowski are the other forwards included in the squad. Karol Czubak, despite scoring five Ekstraklasa goals and adding another in the Polish Cup, has been overlooked.
Rising star left out after impressive start
The most eye-catching absence is Mazurek, who has quickly begun to make an impression at Red Bull Salzburg. The 19-year-old has registered two goals and two key passes this season, including an impressive performance shortly before the squad announcement.
His form had led to growing expectations of a senior call-up, but Urban has decided that the midfielder will have to wait.
Marcel Reguła has also been left out despite his performances for Zagłębie Lubin and Poland’s under-21 side. The midfielder has scored twice and provided one assist in seven European Championship qualifiers at youth level.
Oskar Pietuszewski was another possible selection, but a recurring muscular injury ruled him out. Urban said Poland would not take any unnecessary risks with the 18-year-old, who is currently recovering at FC Porto.
Experienced goalkeepers Łukasz Skorupski and Bartłomiej Drągowski are also absent, with Marcin Bułka, Kamil Grabara and Mateusz Kochalski selected instead.
Urban hands opportunities to new faces
Urban has not completely turned away from youth. Wiktor Nowak has been rewarded for an excellent start at Slavia Prague, where he has scored five goals and provided one assist in nine appearances this season.
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The 21-year-old midfielder could now make his senior international debut. Lech Poznań defender Wojciech Mońka is also waiting for his first appearance after being included in the squad.
Benedyczak returns more than three years after receiving his first senior call-up. The forward did not play during that initial spell and later saw another opportunity disrupted by injury. Four goals and an assist for Kasimpasa have now earned him another chance.
Tymoteusz Puchacz and Kacper Urbański also return, while established players including Jan Bednarek, Matty Cash, Jakub Kiwior, Piotr Zieliński and Nicola Zalewski remain part of Urban’s plans.
Four matches will test Poland’s squad depth
The Polish Football Association confirmed the 26-man squad ahead of matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden and Romania.
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Poland will host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Warsaw on 25 September before travelling to Solna to face Sweden three days later. Romania will then visit Warsaw on 2 October, with Poland completing the international window against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica on 5 October.
That schedule will force Urban to rotate, particularly in attack. Lewandowski may remain the biggest name on the list, but Poland’s four-game run could offer Nowak, Mońka and Benedyczak the opportunities Mazurek has been denied, at least for now.
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