Cole Palmer sends clear message to Gareth Southgate after benching him throughout EURO 2024 tournament
After England’s devastating loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, Cole Palmer issued a defiant message to his teammates. 58 years of suffering are about to come to an end when the Three Lions painfully faltered at the last hurdle in Berlin.
After Nico Williams’ opener and 13 minutes of Palmer drawing England level, Spain won thanks to a late goal from Mikel Oyarzabal. Spain has won the European Championship for a record-breaking fourth time as a result of the outcome, while England has the unfavorable distinction of being the first team to lose consecutive Euro finals.
Speaking after the game, a dejected Palmer urged his team-mates to keep their heads up and to use the crushing defeat as inspiration with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon. “We got to another final, there are positives to take,” the Chelsea star, 22, told ITV.
“Obviously everyone wanted to go a step further, and we’re disappointed that we didn’t… [but] the World Cup’s in two years’ time, we need to remember this feeling and hopefully push on and try and win it.”
The fact the England star is already looking ahead to the next tournament and trying to use the defeat as motivation to push on sums up his elite mentality.
Palmer, however, admitted Spain were worthy winners on the night, and of the competition as a whole. “Spain have been brilliant all tournament, everyone has seen what they can do, so they’re a great team, congratulations to them,” he said, before conceding: “It hurts… I’m gutted.”
The ex-Manchester City ace, who scored a whopping 27 goals in all competitions last season, had to settle for substitute appearances at the Euros, with Southgate preferring to use the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka ahead of him. Nonetheless, Palmer managed to make a significant impact, setting up Ollie Watkins’ winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final before scoring in the final.
Sunday’s defeat leaves Gareth Southgate’s future up in the air, with pressure now mounting on the former Middlesbrough boss to step aside after four major tournaments at the helm. That said, Palmer heaped praise on the 53-year-old, suggesting he’d be keen for him to stay on.
“Gareth’s been amazing for the group,” Palmer said. “He’s got the team to back-to-back finals, so it’s been good.”
“I’m sad for not starting some games but it’s the coach decision, tried my best anytime i got my chance on the pitch” . he stated.
After the match, Southgate revealed he’d speak to those close to him before deciding his future. “Now is not the best time to take a decision like that,” he told ITV. “I’ve got to talk to the right people. It’s not for right now.”