Clear reasons from Tuchel explaining why Palmer was dropped from the England squad for two major matches this November.
On 6 Nov 2026 GMT+7, German coach Thomas Tuchel gave his first interview after announcing the 24-man England squad for two crucial UEFA Nations League matches: hosting Croatia on 12 Nov and visiting Spain on 15 Nov.
One of the most discussed topics was Cole Palmer's exclusion from the 24-man England squad, despite his impressive season tally of 5 goals and 3 assists across all competitions. Only Chelsea teammate Morgan Rogers has contributed to more goals.
Thomas Tuchel explained the reason for Palmer's omission: "We have enough players in the number 10 position, and we continue to rely on the core group from the previous training camp because we are satisfied with the two and a half weeks we've worked together."
"As for Josh King, a newcomer, I want to test him on both wings. He is like a reinforcement who can play in all four attacking positions."
"I believe everyone is highly motivated to play for England, and Cole is no different. But right now, we're discussing players not present in the training camp."
"What matters is the time spent in camp. I've said before that Cole has missed too many chances to prove himself. This camp lasts two and a half weeks, and the players involved have built something great together."
"That's why they deserve full credit and trust because being in the camp is your chance to show your performance. So this is not personal."
"And of course, we never assumed Cole lacks desire or hunger to play for the national team. But competition is real, and the players in camp have performed excellently, securing their spots."