Cole Palmer shares his feelings about missing out on England’s World Cup squad as the reason for his leave comes to light
Thomas Tuchel’s choice to leave Cole Palmer out of his World Cup squad was partly because of some ‘concerns’ about his personality, according to reports. This decision has left the Chelsea midfielder feeling ‘devastated.’
On Friday morning, Tuchel announced his 26-man squad for this summer’s big tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico, with some well-known players missing. Morgan Gibbs-White, who has been impressive in the Premier League lately, was left out, along with Phil Foden, Adam Wharton, Jarrod Bowen, Alex Scott, and Cole Palmer.
Many fans were surprised that Palmer wasn’t included. He hasn’t been able to match his strong performances from the last two seasons at Chelsea, where he was often a key part of England’s teams.
Tuchel explained that there was no point in bringing five players who usually play as No. 10s if they end up playing in other positions. “We had to pick a squad that we truly believe in,” he said. “It’s about who we really trust, who sets the standards, and who builds the leadership.”
He added, “The best team isn’t always the 26 most talented players. But I promise every fan we have 26 players who are 100% committed, know their role, and care about team spirit and putting the team first.”
According to the Mail’s Ian Ladyman, Palmer is ‘devastated’ by being left out, a result of a tough mix of injuries and a difficult season at Chelsea. The Sun reports that Tuchel has concerns about Palmer’s personality, which played a part in not selecting him.
Tuchel, known for choosing players with strong characters, is said to have focused on picking certain personalities for the tournament. Palmer, it seems, doesn’t quite fit that, and the same might be said of Phil Foden, who’s also had a hard time finding form this season.
At a press conference at Wembley, Tuchel described his squad as a group of specialists and strong set-piece players. “We have a lot of young talent—six players who have U21 Euro experience, including Kobbie and Nico O’Reilly,” he said. “We have specialists for different situations—winning when leading, chasing when behind, strong in set-pieces and penalties.”
Here’s the squad list:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
Defenders: Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence, Reece James
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze
Forwards: Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon