Nine weeks after England won World Cup bronze without him, Cole Palmer is back in the squad.
The Recall
Thomas Tuchel named a much-changed 27-man group on September 18, making eight changes to his post-World Cup squad. Palmer returned alongside Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, a recall covered in our Alexander-Arnold update. Tuchel pointed explicitly to club form when explaining both decisions.
The World Cup Omission
Palmer missed the tournament squad entirely, a call that drew heavy criticism at the time. England went on to finish third in North America, beaten in the semi-finals but returning with a medal, which made the debate around his absence louder rather than quieter.
The Fixtures Ahead
- Spain at Wembley on September 26, a rematch against the newly crowned world champions
- Czech Republic away at the Fortuna Arena in Prague on September 29
- Croatia away at Rijeka on October 3
It is a demanding three-week, four-game camp in Group A3 of the Nations League, giving Tuchel a genuine look at his recalled players.
Who Missed Out
Phil Foden was again overlooked, as detailed in our Foden update, while World Cup squad members Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney and Noni Madueke dropped out entirely.
The Real Test
A recall is not a permanent place. Palmer’s Chelsea form, covered in our club update, got him back in the door. Performances against Spain will decide whether he stays.