Skip to content Morgan Rogers refused to celebrate his Wembley breakthrough without defending Cole Palmer, branding claims that the playmaker avoids international duty as a lie. Rogers scored the opening goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 Uefa Nations League victory over Croatia. Harry Kane then sealed qualification for the quarter-finals with a penalty on his 126th appearance for the national team.
Yet the conversation quickly turned to the Chelsea playmaker left sitting at home. Manager Thomas Tuchel decided to omit the 24-year-old from this latest camp. Tuchel stated publicly that the forward misses too many chances to impress.
Also read: England v Croatia: Kane takes caps record at Wembley
That comment sparked sharp debate about his dedication to the Three Lions. Palmer had already withdrawn from the September squad because of a minor injury. He did that while still starting weekly league fixtures for his club.
Why Cole Palmer faced squad scrutiny
The friction between player and manager started well before this autumn camp. Palmer missed out on the summer World Cup in the United States after a run of sketchy form. England went on to finish third in that tournament after falling to Argentina in the semi-finals.
Tuchel then named the attacker in his very first squad after the tournament. But Palmer pulled out to protect his fitness, creating tension before Tuchel’s reign truly gathered pace.
Tuchel explained his reasoning clearly before the Croatia fixture. He pointed to tactical depth and camp chemistry as the deciding factors.
“We have enough number 10s and we stick to the guys who were in the previous camp because we were happy with the two and a half weeks we had together,” Tuchel said. The manager insisted his choice was not personal. He added that nobody in his coaching staff assumes the playmaker lacks the mindset to report for duty.
Rogers hits back at ‘nonsense’ claims
Rogers grew up playing football alongside Palmer, and he refused to let those assumptions linger. The 24-year-old stepped in front of the microphones after the final whistle at Wembley to set the record straight.
It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England.
Rogers explained that physical management remains the real priority. Last season brought a series of nagging fitness problems that left Palmer feeling far below his sharpest form.
“He wants to be here,” Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country as he always has done.”
Rogers stressed that a modern footballer must protect their body across a long career. If taking a brief pause helps Palmer perform at his best for the next decade, Rogers believes supporters must respect that choice.
“It’s a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England. It’s a lie,” Rogers added. He reminded reporters of the broad smile on his friend’s face whenever he steps onto a pitch.
What Cole Palmer numbers show under Tuchel
When you examine the statistical record, the contrast between club output and international selection looks staggering. Palmer has racked up 50 Premier League goals and 24 assists during his domestic career.
He earned the England men’s player of the year award for the 2023-24 campaign after scoring in the Euro 2024 final against Spain in Berlin. Despite those achievements, Cole Palmer has only won 14 caps, scoring two goals and setting up one.
His role has shrunk dramatically under the current management team. Tuchel has taken charge of 27 England fixtures since taking over from Gareth Southgate. Cole Palmer has featured in only three of those matches.
Tuchel wants consistency inside his camp, not just sporadic flashes during domestic weekends. He made that stance obvious when explaining why fringe names kept their places.
“We are speaking now about a player that is not in camp,” Tuchel remarked. “It counts when you are in camp and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress.”
How Jude Bellingham blazed a trail for Cole Palmer
Can an established star work his way back into favor after an exile?
The answer sits right inside the current England dressing room. Tuchel took a similar hard line with Jude Bellingham just over a year ago. The Real Madrid midfielder missed out on selection for fixtures against Wales and Latvia last October.
Bellingham responded by refining his role, and he quickly became an indispensable figure for his country. He delivered seven goals at the World Cup as England marched to a third-place finish.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes Tuchel is running the exact same playbook right now. Robinson argued that Tuchel wanted Bellingham to understand that the squad matters more than any individual star.
Robinson sees clear parallels between that situation and what Cole Palmer faces today. A high-profile omission can become a tactical reset rather than a permanent ban.
What comes next for England in the Nations League
England secured their spot in the Nations League quarter-finals thanks to the 2-1 win over Croatia at Wembley. Kane and Rogers delivered the goals on a night that proved the squad can win without their highest-profile creator.
Tuchel will now prepare his team for the quarter-final stage in March, where squad selection will face intense scrutiny once again.
Source: BBC Sport
