Former professional footballer, Roy Keane, has shed light on England manager Gareth Southgate’s decision to keep Chelsea star Cole Palmer benched during the ongoing Euro 2024. Despite Palmer's exceptional performance at Stamford Bridge this season, he has been largely sidelined in the European Championship.
Palmer’s journey from struggling for minutes at Manchester City to becoming one of England's top players is nothing short of remarkable. His first season with Chelsea saw him score an impressive 22 goals and make 11 assists in just 33 Premier League matches. This sensational form led to his nomination for the Premier League Player of the Year award.
However, despite his stunning performance at club level, Palmer has had limited opportunities to shine on the international stage during Euro 2024.
Limited playtime during Euro 2024
During the European Championship group stage, Palmer made only a single appearance as a second-half substitute against Slovenia. Calls were made for him to start in the last-16 tie against Slovakia but he was once again kept on reserve and introduced only with half-an-hour remaining as England chased an equaliser.
Keane anticipates that this trend will continue into Saturday’s quarter-final match against Switzerland. According to him, Gareth Southgate views both Palmer and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon as 'impact players'.
Former Manchester United legend, Roy Keane, said:
‘For the likes of Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon, it’s clear that Gareth Southgate sees them as impact players off the pitch,’
‘I don’t know the stats for Euro 2024, but because it has been a long season for most of the players in the tournament, most players are having a big impact coming off the bench in the second half of matches, and that includes England with their late equaliser against Slovakia with Ivan Toney being involved. I don’t see Gordon or Palmer starting against Switzerland because I think Southgate will be wanting to bring them on late in the game, especially if it’s a tight match.’
The role of impact players
Impact players are those who can change the course of a game when brought off from bench late into matches. They are often used strategically by managers when they need fresh energy or a different approach towards endgame scenarios. Southgate seems confident that keeping these impact players like Palmer reserved until later stages could be beneficial for England's overall strategy in Euro 2024 matches.
Despite not showcasing their best form yet in Germany, Keane believes fans should not be overly concerned as long as the team continues to secure victories. A win against Switzerland, who recently knocked out European champions Italy, would set England up for a semi-final clash with either Turkey or the Netherlands.
While Palmer's limited playtime might disappoint some fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike, it is important to remember that each decision made by Southgate is part of a larger strategy aimed at securing England's success in Euro 2024.
