WHEN Cole Palmer stood alongside Donald Trump in the MetLife Stadium on July 13, he probably thought it was the perfect dress rehearsal.
That the next time he was in the USA, it would be his chance to help and to the ultimate triumph, the end of those “60 years of hurt”.
Cole Palmer won the Club World Cup in the US last year Credit: Getty
Thomas Tuchel has made some huge calls in his World Cup squad Credit: Getty
Instead, he has joined at the top of the list of England’s all-time biggest shock omissions from the World Cup.
It is hard to imagine quite how broken Palmer would have felt when he received from the Three Lions boss.
A mixture of shock and disbelief, probably. Profound, utter misery at not making the cut.
No wonder. After all, only in December when casting his Ballon d’Or vote did Tuchel select Palmer as the second-best player in the world in 2025, behind only and ahead of winner
You would have assumed that was enough to seal the deal, especially after the win was the second successive tournament in which Palmer had made a major mark.
A year earlier, he had come off the bench to score England’s equaliser against Spain in the European Championship final.
His displays in the US last summer, including that “ice cold” double to down and help crown as winners of the trophy, suggested he really was a man for the big stage.
Palmer, 24, also set up Joao Pedro’s third on an afternoon when everything went right for and his side.
Handed the man-of-the-match trophy by a US President, who probably thought the applause was all for him and not the men in blue, Palmer would have been forgiven for wondering what it might be like if he was back in the same venue exactly a year and six days later.
But if England are playing the nation’s biggest match since 1966, we now know that Palmer will definitely NOT be part of it.
Palmer is one of England’s most surprising omissions Credit: Getty
And nor is there any chance of being the hero of the day, either.
Foden’s seeming disappearance from Pep Guardiola’s starting thoughts, following on from two mediocre displays against Uruguay and Japan in March, meant the schemer always looked like an outsider.
Despite his injury issues, and a downturn in form, Palmer had created England’s goal in the Uruguay match with a brilliant delivery.
Ahead of a tournament which Tuchel has already suggested could come down to set-pieces, Palmer’s quality seemed an obvious extra weapon for England to have. Yet, instead of preparing for his first World Cup, Palmer can start packing his flip-flops and sunscreen for a beach holiday rather than his boots.
Of all the calls Tuchel has made, crushing disappointments for a swathe of players who had truly believed they were heading to North America, none was bigger than omitting the Chelsea star.
And none more surprising — surely the most brutal cut since put on the Kenny G tape in La Manga to tell Gazza he was not going to France 98.
Maybe we should have seen the signs.
Tuchel has had 12 matches since he took over the Three Lions and Palmer has featured in just THREE of them.
Hooked after barely an hour in the miserable qualifying scrape past Andorra, that Uruguay cameo, and when he was caught in possession for Japan’s winner.
And for Chelsea, just ten goals from 33 appearances across all competitions, which included a hat-trick at doomed Wolves.
Phil Foden has not made the cut after a poor season at Man City Credit: Getty
Tuchel put Palmer second in his 2025 Ballon d’Or vote Credit: Getty
Maybe, in the end, the actual audition was at Wembley on Saturday, rather than in an NFL stadium Stateside.
Tuchel was at the final to see how his eight potential selections fared.
For half an hour, he would have struggled to spot Palmer.
And while the Chelsea ace was more involved when he was able to get on the ball and closer to Pedro, his influence waned. Foden, of course, did not get on the pitch at all.
Even so, most expected to see Palmer’s name in the England 26.
The impact on the ex-Manchester City man and his future could be huge.
If he blames the upheavals at Chelsea, it could enhance his willingness to move — may now decide to test the waters.
Should he burn with fire, then, in two years’ time, with England the main host of Euro 2028, Palmer might emerge an even more focused and pivotal player. But some will worry the blow to his pride will be one from which he struggles to recover.
Time will tell on all of those. For now, though, he will want to be anywhere other than in front of a TV in June and July.
As for Tuchel, if England lack attacking inspiration, it will look like a mistake of huge proportions.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
