After Euro 2024 Michał Probierz was faced with the task of not only qualifying for… world cup in North America in 2026, but also to rebuild our staff. Introducing new characters, creating new leaders or choosing a new number one for the Polish goalkeeper. One of the factors that are intended to help fulfill these tasks are non-obvious appointments for players who may not be the strength of this team today, but may do so in the future.
Touchstone is not afraid of unexpected vocations
And so, for example, 20-year-old Mateusz Kowalczyk from GKS Katowice and goalkeeper Bartosz Mrozek from Lech Poznań came to the September training camp of the Polish national team. There were plenty of surprises in October as well. Central midfielder Maxi Oyedele z Legia Warszawawinger Michael Ameyaw from Raków Częstochowa or stopper Mateusz Skrzypczak from Jagiellonia Bia³ystok (ultimately an injury ruled him out). These are all names of players who stand out in the Ekstraklasa and have the potential to join the national team for a long time.
Baszczyński hits Touchstone. Staff is not a place for experiments?
This tactic brings mixed reviews from experts fans. Some people praise Touchstone because, after all, these players need to be introduced to the national team at some point, even if not immediately to play. Others, however, are not such enthusiasts. Former stopper of our national team, Marcin Baszczyński in an interview with “Super Express” He spoke quite unfavorably about Touchstone and his vocations. He mainly accused him of many inconsistencies and quick dismissal of players. As an example, he mentioned Mateusz Bogusz, who was not selected for October.
– Lack of consistency in elections. He didn't use top league players for a long time, but now he has called up a large number of them. A few of the players who received these nominations had been in similar form for a long time, but only now they received nominations. If someone had to make room for those called up, the question is whether this “someone” has already managed to show everything he can do at one training camp? For example, Mateusz Bogusz. He made his debut and… disappeared. Was he that bad at the previous training camp? I don't think so. All the more so because immediately afterwards he confirmed his high performance on the pitches in the United States – said Baszczyński.
Former player, among others Wisła Kraków also said that, in his opinion, the best players must play in the team and one cannot count only on some individual actions. – I wonder whether the “adult” staff is the right place for such checking. Of course, individually it is a huge distinction and motivation to work for the player. But the best players must play in the national team! Moreover, such appointments may give the impression that the coach does not stick to specific patterns and certain personal stability. He counts more on a positive individual performance, said the former Polish representative.