Thomas Tuchel just dropped a bombshell, telling everyone exactly *why* Chelsea forward Cole Palmer isn’t in the England squad for November’s Nations League. The England manager didn’t mince words, stating flat out that Palmer “misses too many chances to impress.” Ouch.
Palmer Out, Fresh Talent In For Nations League Showdown
Palmer, 24, has been left out of the national team before, missing earlier autumn games, and he’s absent again for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. England is set to face Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, November 12, then travel to Madrid for a clash with Spain on Sunday, November 15. Tuchel was pretty direct about it, saying, “it counts when you are in camp and I just said last time that he misses too many opportunities to impress.” He added that he guesses “everyone is desperate to play for England and Cole is no exception.”
Instead of Palmer, Tuchel has called up a couple of uncapped players, giving Fulham’s Josh King and Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham their first taste of senior England action. Both are attacking midfielders. Tuchel explained his thinking on the number 10 role, saying, “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.” On King, Tuchel sees versatility, noting, “We have Josh King as a new player in there, but I want to see him on both wings. He is kind of an extra player and he can play all four positions.”
Jobe Bellingham Steps Into the Spotlight
The big buzz is around Jobe Bellingham, just 21, who joins his older brother Jude in the England squad. This could mark the first time a pair of siblings have featured in an England lineup since Gary and Phil Neville, which is pretty wild to think about.
Jobe’s journey mirrors Jude’s in some ways. Both came through the Birmingham City academy and were regulars in England youth teams. Jobe made a move to Dortmund from Sunderland in the summer of 2025, in a deal reportedly worth up to £31m, after helping the Wearside club win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. His brother Jude, 23, also played for the German side between 2020 and 2023 before signing with Real Madrid.
Tuchel is clearly hyped about Jobe, revealing that England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley has been “speaking very highly” of him “for a while.” Tuchel emphasized Jobe’s consistent performance: “He is the captain of the under-21s so I think the door should always be open and the pathway should always be open for special performances over a long period of time and that is what Jobe has done.” He highlighted Jobe’s impact at his club: “He found his way and his rhythm with Dortmund, where he has had an excellent start to the season. He is a regular starter there and now very influential.” Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who was an early withdrawal from the last squad, was passed over due to a “difficult spell with his club.”
England is currently sitting second behind Spain in group A3 of the Nations League, with three wins and one loss. Grabbing just one more point from these two remaining matches will secure their spot in the two-legged quarter-finals set for March, with the winners of those ties advancing to the Nations League Finals in June. Big games ahead, and Tuchel’s making it crystal clear what it takes to be on that pitch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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