Roy Keane slams Cole Palmer’s England exit as a trophy‑free gamble
On 27 September 2026, England fell 3‑2 to Spain at Wembley on Saturday night, surrendering a lead after conceding early and never regaining control. The Nations League clash saw the visitors overturn a deficit, leaving the Three Lions without a spark and exposing their inability to dominate the game.
Keane's blunt assessment
Roy Keane told ITV Sport before the game that fans should forget the idea of Cole Palmer lifting England to a higher level. He added, “I like Palmer, he’s a talented boy, but he’s got far too many bad habits, for me.” The Manchester United legend warned that Palmer’s fitness woes make any trophy promise unrealistic. Keane’s remarks came as the England squad prepared for the Nations League encounter at Wembley.
Palmer's season and withdrawal
Cole Palmer has begun the Premier League season brightly, recording two goals and two assists in his first five matches. He played every minute of Chelsea’s recent 3‑0 defeat by Brentford after a summer spent recovering from exclusion from the World Cup squad. Palmer had just completed the full 90 minutes in Chelsea’s 3‑0 win over Brentford the previous Friday. Yet he withdrew from England duty for a fourth time, citing fitness issues, and did so alongside Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento. He also withdrew from Lee Carsley’s final interim squad in November 2024 after Tuchel had been named as Gareth Southgate’s successor.
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Tuchel's response
Thomas Tuchel, appointed England head coach, said ahead of the Spain game that everyone is desperate to represent the nation. When questioned about Palmer’s absence, Tuchel replied, “It’s hard to argue against what you are saying,” and noted the player missed too many camps with injury. He listed Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs‑White and Eberechi Eze as the alternatives and stressed the door remains open for all players. Tuchel stressed he is not Palmer’s friend, only his national team coach, and can judge him solely on his contributions. Tuchel also said he is not worried about the issue, keeping the door open for all players.
In the match, Marc Guehi fed Lamine Yamal inside two minutes for Spain’s opener, but England equalised before half‑time through Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane. Kane later struck the bar from the penalty spot, and in the second half Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal restored Spain’s lead to seal the 3‑2 victory. Spain entered the match as the reigning world champions.
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The defeat leaves England without momentum in the Nations League, highlighting the need for a stable squad beyond Palmer’s intermittent availability. Tuchel’s comments suggest the coach will rely on the players already in camp as England seeks to rebuild control and ambition. Tuchel also stressed that the door is not closed on any player, saying he was ‘not worried’ about the issue.