Cole Palmer, the 22-year-old football sensation, has expressed his frustration over the limited playing time he received during England's journey to the Euro 2024 final. Despite a remarkable debut season with Chelsea that saw him netting 25 goals across all competitions, Palmer was largely overlooked in favour of players like Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
The young star was forced to play second fiddle as England strived to end their long-standing wait for a major international trophy. This decision by Gareth Southgate left many fans and sports pundits questioning why such a promising talent was left on the sidelines.
Limited appearances but significant impact
Palmer did not start any game at the tournament but made five appearances as a substitute. His most notable contribution came in the final against Spain where he scored an impressive equaliser. However, his efforts were not enough as England fell short and lost the final match with a scoreline of 2-1.
Despite being used sparingly throughout Euro 2024, Palmer proved his worth when given an opportunity. He supplied Watkins with an assist for his stunning goal against Netherlands in the semi-final match which helped secure England's place in the finals.
Questioning Southgate’s decisions
The former Manchester City attacking midfielder - now considered one of world’s best - has openly questioned some decisions made by Gareth Southgate during Euro 2024. The lack of playing time particularly puzzled him considering his outstanding performance during his first season at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer, Chelsea player, said:
"It was frustrating at England, to be fair, Not to say that the players aren't good. But just coming off the back of the season I had, the form I was in, everything I was doing was coming off, so I'm not playing in the first two games even when the team was struggling, it was a bit like, 'why?'. Do you know what I mean?
"If you bring me on [in] the third game and I don't do anything, then I can't really say anything. I just had to try and force my way in. I remember Watkins coming on [in the final], and I was thinking, why not me?"
In spite of being benched until late into the final game against Spain, Palmer managed to make an immediate impact upon entering onto field; within three minutes he had fired home Bellingham's lay-off into Unai Simon's goal – something he had been doing consistently throughout his debut season with Chelsea.
Despite the frustration, Palmer is expected to play a significant role in England's future plans. With Thomas Tuchel set to take over as coach of the Three Lions from January 1 onwards, fans and sports betting enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating how this change will impact team dynamics and player selection. Lee Carsley is currently serving as interim coach following Southgate's resignation after Euro 2024. As we look forward to a new era of English football under Tuchel's leadership, it will be interesting to see how Palmer’s role evolves within the team.
