Sobolewski retirement shocks Poland

Poland midfielder Radosław Sobolewski has retired from international football within three days of his country qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008™.

EURO hero
The 31-year-old anchorman has played eight times in Poland's successful Group A qualification campaign – including all of Saturday's 2-0 win against Belgium which secured their place at a first UEFA European Championship. However, with the tournament in Austria and Switzerland within sight, Sobolewski has told national coach Leo Beenhakker that he is quitting the team with immediate effect.

Career highlight
"Sobolewski informed me about his decision after training on Sunday," said Beenhakker. "He told me that this qualifying campaign has been the highlight of his career but that, for his own reasons, he will not play for us any longer. He explained those reasons to me and I told him that I will miss him because he has been a quality player for us."

Passenger
Sobolewski has travelled with the squad for Wednesday's concluding qualifier in Serbia but will not be adding to his 32 caps and solitary international goal. "He is here with us but more as a tourist," Beenhakker explained. The player is expected to concentrate on his club career with Wisla Kraków, where he is in his fourth season. Sobolewski also featured twice for Poland at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.