Football legend and former England striker Alan Shearer has strongly criticised Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer over the latter’s commitment to England’s National Men’s Football Team.
Palmer withdrew from competing in England’s four game slate in the UEFA Nations League due to injury.
This development prompted England manager Thomas Tuchel to express his disappointment over Palmer’s latest absence; Palmer has played just three times for Tuchel since the German’s appointment as manager.
He “misses too many opportunities” and “way too many camps” Tuchel said ahead of England’s 3-2 loss to Spain in the first of four Nations League games and on his part, Shearer said to Betfair that,
“I think at every opportunity you have to go and play for England. You can’t just turn up for World Cups or Euros.”
“I get that you have to manage your body, but he’s not played a lot of football and he’s not going to play a lot of football with Chelsea not being in Europe this season.”
“So, without knowing all of the reasoning, that one is the standout one for me, especially when he wasn’t at the World Cup.”
Tuchel did not include Palmer in England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad that won bronze.
