Former BVB midfielder Jakub “Kuba” Blaszczykowski made one final appearance for the Polish national team in their game against Germany on Saturday evening. It was an emotional farewell for the long-term captain of the Poland team.

More than 57,000 spectators came to a sold-out Warsaw National Stadium in order to bid farewell to one of the greatest players in the country’s history. The then 20-year-old made his debut for the Poland national team in a friendly against Saudi Arabia in March 2006. On Friday, he made his 109th and final appearance.

During that long period, Kuba scored 21 times and notched as many assists. The 37-year-old represented his country at two European Championships (2012 and 2016) and one World Cup (2018). The winger, who currently plies his trade for Wisla Krakow, had not made an international appearance since facing Austria in September 2019.

Kuba got the farewell from the national team that he deserved in the friendly fixture against Germany on Friday evening. In a nod to his long-term shirt number, the teary-eyed Blaszczykowski was substituted off after 16 minutes to a standing ovation from the crowd. The German and Polish players gave him a guard of honour.

Kuba made 253 competitive appearances for BVB from 2007 to 2016 (32 goals and 52 assists). He was one of the key players as the Black & Yellows became German champions in 2011 and won the double in 2012.