Tuchel says Palmer misses too many chances for England

Thomas Tuchel says Cole Palmer “misses too many opportunities” to shine after he pulled out of England’s first squad since the World Cup.

Palmer was one of the notable players left out of Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup as the Three Lions reached the semi-finals.

The Chelsea playmaker seemed to signal to his national coach with a strong start to the new season.

But he was one of five players to withdraw from the England squad before they began training.

“For sure it’s a missed opportunity,” Tuchel said ahead of a game against world champions Spain on Saturday.

“It’s another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities, and I don’t blame him for it. It’s just the fact.

“He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp.”

Tuchel faced heavy criticism for his role in England’s late collapse against Argentina in the semi-finals two months ago.

If his team had held on to a 1-0 lead, they would have played Spain in the World Cup final.

Instead, Luis de la Fuente’s squad beat Argentina to follow up their win in the Euro 2024 final against England.

Tuchel said creating chances against a Spain side that conceded just once in eight World Cup games is the main challenge.

“It is so difficult, obviously, for every single team in the world to create chances against them,” the German coach said.

“We want to, of course. We have a plan and we have ambition, and we want to be the ones who prove the opposite and we want to be the exception of the rule.

“But they are at the moment a very complete team.”