Fernando Santos' Future as Poland Coach Uncertain after Poor Start to Euro 2024 Qualifying
Poland's coach Fernando Santos' future is uncertain after a poor start to European Championship qualifying. The team is currently fourth in its group.
Fernando Santos, the current coach of Poland's national soccer team, is facing uncertainty about his position following the team's poor start to European Championship qualifying. Santos, who took over the role in January after coaching Portugal for eight years, met with Cezary Kulesza, the president of Poland's soccer federation, to discuss the team's performance. Further talks will be held this week, and no final decision has been made regarding Santos' future.
Poland, led by star striker Robert Lewandowski, currently sits in fourth place in its five-team qualifying group, behind Albania, the Czech Republic, and Moldova. The team has lost three out of five games, prompting criticism from fans and the media. Santos was brought in to improve Poland's underwhelming record in major tournaments, as the team has only advanced from the group stage in one World Cup (2022) and one European Championship (2016) since 1986. However, their chances of qualifying for Euro 2024 are now uncertain.
With three matches left in the qualifying stage, Poland is four points behind first-place Albania and two points behind the Czech Republic in second place. Only the top two teams in the group will qualify automatically. Despite the team's struggles, Santos has stated that he will not resign, believing that there is still hope for Poland to qualify.
Poland's next game is against the last-place Faeroe Islands on October 12. There has been speculation in the Polish sports media about potential replacements for Santos, with Marek Papszun and Michal Probierz being mentioned as possible options. Papszun led Raków Czestochowa to their first-ever Polish league championship last season and also won the Polish Cup twice during his tenure. Probierz currently coaches Poland's under-21 team.
In conclusion, Fernando Santos' position as Poland's coach is uncertain following the team's poor start to European Championship qualifying. With three matches remaining, Poland faces an uphill battle to qualify for Euro 2024. Santos will continue discussions with the soccer federation regarding his future, while Polish sports media speculate about potential replacements. The team's next game against the Faeroe Islands will be crucial in their quest for qualification.
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