Jan Urban explains Michał Gurgul omission from Poland squad

Poland head coach Jan Urban addressed the omission of Lech Poznań defender Michał Gurgul from the latest national squad, stating the decision stemmed from tactical requirements and competition for places in defense. Urban emphasized that announcing call-ups is not a debate about individual quality but a necessity to make specific choices based on player profiles. He explained that details determine selection and that he must decide between defenders who offer different attributes.

In the defensive formation, Urban selected Jan Bednarek, Kacper Potulski, Matty Cash, Oskar Kubiak, Przemysław Frankowski, Tymoteusz Puchacz, and Kamil Piątkowski. The coach noted that Oskar Kubiak demonstrates the ability to play higher up the pitch while remaining effective defensively. Regarding Gurgul, Urban assessed that the Lech Poznań player perhaps offers more in defense than in offense compared to other options, leading to his exclusion in favor of players with different tactical contributions for the upcoming fixtures.

Despite the omission, Urban confirmed he has personally witnessed Gurgul’s strong performances live. The defender has featured in 24 matches during the current campaign, maintaining significant involvement at club level. This workload was cited by critics as a factor, with public commentary suggesting that if Gurgul is not selected for the senior team, he should rest rather than participate in U21 friendly matches following an intensive schedule of games.

The exclusion generated considerable discussion among supporters and media, with many expressing frustration over the repeated snub. Commentators argued that Gurgul’s domestic form warranted inclusion, questioning the criteria used for selection. Urban maintained that the chosen players are the ones who should compete for places in the immediate future, indicating that the current hierarchy reflects his specific tactical plan for the national team’s upcoming engagements.