 "Dominic Solanke is back in the England football team squad after a seven-year gap. Image: Reuters")
Dominic Solanke has been called up to the England squad for games against Greece and Finland seven years after winning his only cap, with Jude Bellingham back for the first time since Euro 2024, while France captain Kylian Mbappe has been left out of his team’s UEFA Nations League matches this month by coach Didier Deschamps.
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford miss out while Tottenham playmaker James Maddison is also overlooked by interim manager Lee Carsley for the Nations League fixtures.
England matches: The take on Greece at Wembley in Group B2 next Thursday before heading to Helsinki to face Finland three days later.
Solanke’s sole international cap came as a substitute against Brazil in 2017 but the 27-year-old has impressed since joining Tottenham from Bournemouth in August, scoring in his past three games.
Real Madrid’s Bellingham, in-form Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Ollie Watkins are in the 25-man squad after missing last month’s games against Ireland and Finland for various reasons.
But Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze has been left out after a disappointing start to the season.
“Dom’s (Solanki) a player I’m fully aware of having worked with him in the past. He was really close to being in the last squad but got injured just before selection,” said Carsley.
“He did so well at Bournemouth and now he’s taken that form into Spurs. He’s got a lot of really good attributes.”
Palmer withdrew from the last England camp through injury but returns after scoring five times in his past two games for Chelsea.
“I’ve known Cole for a number of years and seen how he’s progressed,” said Carsley. “Every challenge put in front of him he takes in his stride, he doesn’t get too high or too low. It’s great to see him doing well.”
The interim boss said it was a challenge to juggle the wealth of creative talent at his disposal, with Palmer, Foden and Bellingham all in the mix.
“We always look at finding the right balance, who complements who in terms of the way that we play,” he said.
“I try not to get too caught up in positions, it’s more the attributes and the way we can potentially attack the opposition. All three are excellent players.”
Carsley was announced as interim boss in August following the departure of Gareth Southgate after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
The 50-year-old oversaw victories in his first two games in charge against Ireland and Finland but said his situation had not changed.
“I think it’s clear what my remit is,” he said. “It’s to take these three camps in the Nations League. I’m happy with that. My situation hasn’t changed and I’m looking forward to the camp.”
England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Rico Lewis, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Conor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham
Forwards: Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke
Mbappe kept out of France squad
The Real Madrid star returned from a short spell on the sidelines, with a thigh injury, to appear as a substitute in the surprise 1-0 defeat at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday. However, the 25-year-old will play no part in France’s games against Israel and Belgium, a decision clearly made in order to allow Mbappe to rest and work on his fitness.
“I had an exchange with Kylian. He has a problem which is not serious. I am not going to take risks, which is why he is not in the squad,” Deschamps told reporters in Paris.
France play Israel on Thursday, October 10 in an away fixture moved to Budapest due to the security situation in the Middle East.
Les Bleus, Nations League winners in 2021, will then take on Belgium in Brussels on Monday, October 14.
France have three points after their first two outings in Group A2, which is topped by Italy with six points.
Thursday’s squad announcement was the first by Deschamps since vice-captain Antoine Griezmann retired from international football at the beginning of this week.
“He had such an impact that we can’t play in the same way,” Deschamps said of losing Griezmann, who quit aged 33 after winning 137 caps.
“I am not necessarily going to change the system, but I am not going to look for an equivalent player.”
Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who won the last of his 10 caps in June last year, returns to the squad, from which midfielder N’Golo Kante is also left out.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan/ITA), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani (all Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea/ENG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)