Thomas Tuchel’s first comments about Cole Palmer when he became England’s coach were pretty awkward!
Thomas Tuchel’s first words about Cole Palmer playing for England back in December 2024 haven’t aged very well.
With England’s first World Cup match against Croatia coming up on June 11, Tuchel will reveal his official 26-man squad on Friday morning, May 22.
Some big names are expected to be left out, as Tuchel seems ready to make some bold decisions ahead of his first major tournament since he took charge in October 2024.
One player likely missing is Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. After a tough season with injuries and a dip in form, he didn’t make the cut.
When Tuchel was first hired, many thought Palmer would be a key player for England, especially after his great performance during Euro 2024. Tuchel’s early praise for Palmer has recently come back into the spotlight, and it’s a bit awkward now.
After England found out their World Cup qualifying opponents, Tuchel was asked about Palmer, who some at that time even called the best player in the world. He said:
“That’s a bit much to say about individual players. But he’s definitely in good form — everyone agrees on that. Hopefully, he can keep growing and maintain that level, and then everything will be fine. Everyone enjoys watching him because he’s cool, composed, and very sharp at scoring and assisting.”
This season, Palmer scored nine goals in 25 Premier League games for Chelsea, who finished eighth after a disappointing year.
READ MORE: Phil Foden and Cole Palmer to miss out on England’s 26-man World Cup squad along with three other big names
Despite this, many thought the 24-year-old would still be picked, especially since he’s earned 14 caps for England and scored two goals, including one in the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Instead, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham, and Eberechi Eze are expected to take the attacking midfield spots in England’s squad.
For forwards, the squad likely includes Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, and Ivan Toney — who many think is the biggest surprise pick.
Here’s the expected lineup:
**GOALKEEPERS:** Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford
**DEFENCE:** Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento, Nico O’Reilly, Djed Spence, Reece James
**MIDFIELD:** 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