Tuchel's shock choice to select Saudi Tony national team instead of Tottenham Solanki to win Europa
Tuchel's shock choice to select Saudi Tony national team instead of Tottenham Solanki to win Europa
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Coach Thomas Tuchel has announced the list of the June A matches for the European qualifiers for the 2026 North American World Cup. The most notable results are the elimination of Dominic Solanki and the return of Ivan Toney.
The choice to convene Ivan Toney, who is active in the Saudi Arabian League, and exclude Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanki, who won the Europa League, is causing a strong reaction among local media and fans.
BBC Sport analyzed the list as "still full of talent, but some selections are questioning many fans."
Ivan Toney has scored 28 goals in 42 matches since he left Brentford to move to Saudi Al-Ahli. This is his first call-up since last year's Euro 2024 final and his first recall since his advance to Saudi Arabia. Tuchel said, "He has scored more than 20 goals for his team this season and contributed greatly to winning the Asian Champions League. I haven't visited the stadium in person, but this time, I will bring him and evaluate him in the environment of the national team."
Despite leading Tottenham to victory in the Europa League, Solanki failed to make the national team. "I spoke directly to Solanki," Tuchel said. "I was in the training camp with us, and I have a clear picture of what kind of players I want. This time, I wanted to see new faces." BBC reported that "Solanki won trophies in big tournaments and had an impressive season in the Premier League. Many people say it is difficult to understand why he was excluded compared to Tony."
Furthermore, Phil Foden (Manchester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Luke Shaw, Kobe Maynu and Harry Maguire were excluded from the list due to injuries and poor form. In particular, it is unusual that no Manchester United player is included. Instead, Chelsea defender Trevor Chalova was named in the first A-team, and Arsenal prospect Miles Lewis-Skelly was included as the only resource in the left defensive position.
Meanwhile, Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) was sidelined by an orbital injury sustained in the FA Cup final. Tuchel called him directly to explain the situation and said, "Géhi is a very important player in my vision. But this time, I have given consideration to focusing on my recovery."
Jordan Henderson, who plays for Ajax, and Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid are also on the list. Bellingham will undergo shoulder surgery after the Club World Cup, but is expected to participate in this A-match. Some media outlets expressed concern over the selection of Henderson and Tony, who do not play in a competitive league, saying that the consistency and competition principles of the national team are questioned. 바카라사이트
The BBC pointed out, "The national team is still full of talent, but the repeated selection of certain players and the exclusion of some active players could be seen as a "closed structure." In particular, the fact that players who have been prominent this season, such as Solanki, Bowen and Jacob Murphy, have been shunned is seen as a warning light ahead of the next World Cup.