Image via @LaczyNasPilka & @Cyfrasport on Twitter
Yesterday morning, Cezary Kulesza announced via Twitter that Michał Probierz was to be the next Selekcjoner of the Polish national team, ahead of a press conference that was scheduled for lunchtime.
The race for Selekcjoner was widely regarded as being between Marek Papszun and Probierz, and the court of public opinion was such that Papszun should’ve been the choice. Obviously, when Probierz was announced instead, many people took to social channels to voice their displeasure, for a multitude of reasons.
Some criticism levelled at this appointment was centred around the fact that Kulesza and Probierz have a level of friendship, as well as the idea that Papszun was something of a progressive figure in Polish football and Probierz was more of an “old-guard” type of Selekcjoner.
Much as I wanted Papszun to be Poland’s next Selekcjoner, there are a number of reasons why Probierz still seems like a good fit, even if he has been an eccentric and controversial figure in the past.
Firstly, there isn’t really much to go along with this “old-guard” thinking; Probierz is hardly a Czesław Michniewicz or a Fernando Santos, not least in terms of the style of football he employs. Furthermore, Probierz’s time leading the U-21s has been a really good watch for the most part, as there is usually a heavy reliance on attacking football.
I also enjoyed some of the answers Probierz gave in the press conference yesterday. To start by acknowledging how unpopular a choice you are takes a great deal of self-awareness, something that perhaps the last two Selekcjoners have lacked. I think some of Probierz’s comments in regard to picking on form, as well as his work with the U-21s reflect a bigger willingness than before to refresh the national side.
Picking an ex-player like Sebastian Mila as as assistant also feels like a real positive, given there is arguably no ex-player less divisive who still operates in Polish football. Reports have also circulated that Jerzy Dudek might yet join Probierz’s backroom staff in the future, and that strikes me as a similar (if more divisive) move.
Probierz is undoubtedly a good short-term choice, but the alleged contract through to 2026 does cause a sense of hesitancy in me. If Poland advance to Euro 2024, perform well both in terms of results and style, then there is no argument he should continue. However, if none of these things happen then perhaps it’s time to reset more thoroughly, and I’m not wholly sure Probierz still has the capability to enact that.
Within the next two weeks, there will need to be call-ups for the next round of qualifiers, and it will be interesting to see just how far Probierz goes in putting his stamp on the side.
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