Tuchel says Palmer "misses too many opportunities" after withdrawing from England squad

Cole Palmer pulled out of England's latest squad during an international window in which the national side will play four matches, manager Thomas Tuchel said on 25 September 2026. Tuchel added that the Chelsea forward "misses too many opportunities" to play for England.

The withdrawal came as a surprise because Palmer has started all five of Chelsea's matches so far this season. He was left out of the World Cup squad by Tuchel and has featured just three times since the German took charge of the Three Lions in January 2025. England will use the current international window to play four matches.

"My understanding is that he is playing with discomfort and pain, and he cannot compete at the highest level with discomfort and pain. So he withdrew and informed us, and Chelsea informed us." Tuchel said. "For sure. It is a missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities. I don't blame him for it. It is just a fact."

Tuchel expanded on Palmer's absences from camps, saying: "He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I witness and see within in my team, and for that you have to be in camp." He added: "And if you're not in camp, there is a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you can only do it when you are actually on the pitch with me. So yes, it is a missed opportunity." It is understood Palmer is currently abroad completing an injury-specific training plan and has been accompanied by a Chelsea rehabilitation coach on his overseas trip.

Chelsea's non-international players have been given days off and have been permitted to travel if they so wish. Declan Rice, Tino Livramento, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo are the other players who pulled out with injury. On the concern players might prioritise clubs over country, Tuchel said: "We are not managing load. When I was in club football, I used the term 'international break' and, when you hear it from the other side, it is a totally different picture," he said. "It is a competitive environment, but it is also an environment that the players love to be a part of. "That is what togetherness and brotherhood look like, and that is what we have created since last September in qualifying. We will never compromise on that. "We will never let it creep in that we have a feeling players do not want to come. We focus on the guys who absolutely want to play for England."

The match against world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday is England's first game since the end of the World Cup. The Three Lions ended the tournament with a 6-4 win in the Bronze medal match against France, but were criticised for the way they lost 2-1 to Argentina in the semi-final after leading 1-0 going into the final 15 minutes and then conceding two goals in the final minutes to reach the final.

Tuchel did not expect a negative reaction from supporters, saying: "I would be very surprised if the atmosphere would hold a third place or an accident in the 85th minute of a semi-final against us and against our team, that would surprise me a lot." He added: "The time and how and how fast it sold out shows me how excited everyone is to come and watch. "That's the reality of it, Spain make it hard for you to play a high intensity game. They are happy to control the ball and the rhythm. "There can be spells when we will suffer and have to suffer, but there can be spells where we dominate and can bring the attributes that make us strong, so let's see how it plays out."

England face world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, the first match of this international window.