Cole Palmer's England career is not on track as many people expected. After a breakout 2023-2024 season with Chelsea and significant contributions to EURO 2024, Palmer is considered a strong candidate to become a mainstay under the reign of new coach Thomas Tuchel.
However, a series of physical problems that did not appear at the right time stopped him. Since EURO 2024, the 23-year-old has only played three more times for the national team, and only once under Tuchel.
With the 2026 World Cup only 9 months away, Palmer seems to have little time to assert himself, as well as win a place as a key factor in his journey to the US, Canada and Mexico.
Despite an explosive Chelsea season, where he has contributed to 42 goals in all competitions, Palmer has only made a single appearance at EURO 2024. Gareth Southgate only gave him 145 minutes to play in 5 matches.
In the short moments he was present, Palmer proved that he was one of the "Three Lions" most influential players. In just 10 minutes in the semi-final against the Netherlands, he himself launched a sharp pass through the opponent's defense, putting Ollie Watkins in a favorable position to finish excellently from a tight angle.
That performance should have been enough to ensure Palmer a starting spot in the final. However, Southgate - who was famous for his practicum - put his trust in Phil Foden, who was ineffective in the attack against Spain.
Meanwhile, Kobbie Mainoo is deployed in midfield, forming a trio with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. Strangely, Palmer continued to sit on the bench until the 70th minute, when England was trailing 0-1. Immediately after entering the field, he immediately left his mark with a powerful shot, accurately into the low corner of the goal to equalize.
Although the "Three Lions" had to accept defeat at the last minute, on a personal level, many people believe that this is the beginning of the Palmer era in the England team. However, the reality has not gone as expected.
"To be honest, I was very disappointed to play for England. It's not for the bad players. But after last season, with my form, everything I do has declined" - Palmer admitted.
Tuchel's arrival to replace Southgate is expected to bring change. When asked in December last year whether Palmer was the best player in the world, the German strategist replied: "It's a bit too much to talk about each player. But he's definitely in good form, and I think everyone agrees with that.
Hopefully he will continue to develop and maintain stability. Everyone likes to see him play. He is calm, cool, sharp in both finishing and assisting."
Ironically, these comments coincide with the period when Palmer's statistics began to decline. The Chelsea player struggled to regain his familiar influence in the second half of the 2024-2025 season, despite still being the most important factor in the club.
With an attacking star squad in hand and Tuchel's unpredictability on the coaching bench, Palmer is facing great pressure as the World Cup in North America will kick off in just 9 months. However, for now, time seems to be on his side.
Palmer will be determined to assert himself in the international series in October, when England welcomes Wales before traveling to Latvia. After that, Tuchel's team will end the qualifying campaign with 2 other matches.
By that time, the German strategist promises to have a clearer view of the "Three Lions" squad before entering the World Cup campaign. In the context of increasingly limited time, Palmer will have to strive to maintain his fitness and regain his peak form to become an irreplaceable link.
It was also an opportunity for him to appear on the biggest stage as a starting star, ready to continue writing the story as the hero of the England team.
