Verdict after Poland’s flop in Engelberg: experts call for squad changes and name a new T4S favorite

Patience with Poland’s ski jumpers is wearing thin after another poor weekend in the World Cup at Engelberg. Despite difficult wind, 18‑year‑old Kacper Tomasiak climbed to 13th place on Saturday and remains a clear leader among the Poles. His place at the Four Hills Tournament is unquestioned.

Beyond Tomasiak, the picture is bleak. Piotr Żyła and Kamil Stoch have been scoring points without impressing, while others continue to disappoint. Because Poland lost a bonus World Cup quota due to Continental Cup results, head coach Maciej Maciusiak will be able to select only five athletes for the Four Hills Tournament.

Polish commentators and experts are openly demanding changes right after Christmas. Once again, Maciej Kot and Dawid Kubacki failed to reach the second round in Engelberg, and Paweł Wąsek even missed Friday’s qualification. As a result, several journalists on X (Twitter) called for form-based selections from the Continental Cup.

• Patryk Połoński suggested prioritizing young, in‑form jumpers from the COC—specifically naming Klemens Joniak for a Four Hills spot.
• TVP Sport’s Mateusz Leleń argued that in the race between Wąsek and Kubacki for the fifth Four Hills place, Joniak might actually be the best choice, at least for the German part of the tour.
• TVP Sport’s Michał Chmielewski posted his proposed T4S lineup: Tomasiak (on form), Żyła, Stoch (farewell season), Joniak (earned it), and Adam Niżnik (needs top‑level exposure). He would send Kot back to the Continental Cup to regain quota and “hide the rest,” urging an all‑in approach if Poland’s Olympic medal ambitions are still real.
• Patryk Pancewicz ironized that “it should be better at the Four Hills—it’s visible in the athletes’ eyes,” poking at the coach’s attempts to stay positive. Maciusiak said he would not make a final roster decision before Sunday’s competition.
• Adam Bucholz (Skijumping.pl) summed up the season so far: in the first ten World Cup competitions of 2025/26, the top‑placed Pole was Tomasiak six times, Stoch twice, and Żyła twice.

In short, media consensus points to maintaining Tomasiak, keeping Żyła and Stoch, and seriously considering calling up in‑form youngsters—above all Klemens Joniak—while sidelining veterans who are out of form. The coach’s final call is expected after the Sunday round in Engelberg, with only five Four Hills tickets available.