Morgan Rogers, standing in the glow of a Nations League win over Croatia at Wembley, found himself defending a friend who was absent from the pitch. In the quiet space between a national team's triumph and a manager's stated expectations, the question of whether Cole Palmer still wants to wear the England shirt has become a test of how loyalty, injury, and form are read in an age that demands constant proof. Palmer's three appearances in twenty-seven matches under Thomas Tuchel tell one story, while his friend's insistence that he is simply protecting a body meant for a long career tells anoth
Rogers insists Palmer is committed to England, calling doubts 'a lie' after Croatia win
"It's a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England."
Mark
Why did Rogers feel he had to say this so strongly?
Mimi
Because the story had drifted from Palmer's form to Palmer's commitment. Rogers is a close friend, and he was answering the idea that Palmer doesn't want to play for England.
Luke
Worth noting that Tuchel never said Palmer lacked commitment. He said Palmer misses too many chances to impress, and called it not personal.
Mark
So the doubt about commitment came from where?
Mimi
Mostly from the September withdrawal with a minor injury, despite Palmer playing every Chelsea league game until then.
Luke
Right, but the reporting doesn't say who is questioning his commitment, only that Rogers is rebutting it. And Rogers is a friend, so that's one side of it.
Mark
What do the numbers say about his England career?
Mimi
Fourteen caps in three years, two goals, one assist, and only three of Tuchel's 27 games. Yet 50 Premier League goals and 24 assists.
Luke
Those are facts. The explanation, that he was low after injuries, comes from Rogers, not from Palmer or Chelsea.
Mark
And the Bellingham comparison?
Mimi
Robinson suggests Tuchel is using exclusion as a lesson, as he did with Bellingham last October.
Luke
That's Robinson's reading. Tuchel hasn't said it, and the two cases may not match.
Der Puls
- Rogers blasted suggestions that Palmer is uncommitted to England, calling them 'a lie' just hours after a 2-1 win over Croatia.
- Thomas Tuchel's remark that Palmer 'misses too many chances to impress' has sharpened a public debate about exclusion and effort.
- Palmer, with 14 caps and only three appearances under Tuchel, now stands outside the squad despite 50 Premier League goals for Chelsea.
- Rogers says his friend is managing a low-form, injury-affected spell for the sake of a long career, and the door to a return remains open.
Morgan Rogers, standing in the glow of a Nations League win over Croatia at Wembley, found himself defending a friend who was absent from the pitch. In the quiet space between a national team's triumph and a manager's stated expectations, the question of whether Cole Palmer still wants to wear the England shirt has become a test of how loyalty, injury, and form are read in an age that demands constant proof. Palmer's three appearances in twenty-seven matches under Thomas Tuchel tell one story, while his friend's insistence that he is simply protecting a body meant for a long career tells another. The outcome, as with many such stories in sport, rests on the slow accumulation of days yet to come.
Morgan Rogers had only just helped England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley when reporters turned his attention to a friend who had not been there. Asked about criticism of his Chelsea team-mate and childhood friend Cole Palmer, Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live that any suggestion Palmer is not committed to England was a lie and nonsense.
Palmer had been left out of the squad after Thomas Tuchel said he misses too many chances to impress. He also missed the World Cup and had withdrawn from the previous camp in September with a minor injury. Rogers says Palmer wants to be called up and represent his country as he always has. He describes a difficult year of injuries in which his friend did not feel like himself on the pitch, and argues that protecting his body now is wise if he hopes to play for another decade or more.
The record explains why the story feels uneven. Palmer has 14 England caps and two goals, one of them in the Euro 2024 final, against 50 Premier League goals for Chelsea. Under Tuchel he has started in just three of 27 matches. Tuchel says England are happy with the players they have, that everyone is desperate to play for England, and that the competition is on. He insists it is not personal.
There is a precedent. Jude Bellingham was once left out too, then became a key figure at the World Cup. Whether Palmer gets his chance again will depend on Tuchel's competition and on how his form and fitness hold up at Chelsea.
Morgan Rogers had just helped England beat Croatia 2-1 at Wembley on Wednesday night when the conversation turned to someone who wasn't there. Asked about criticism of his Chelsea team-mate and childhood friend Cole Palmer, Rogers told BBC Radio 5 Live that any suggestion Palmer isn't committed to England "is a lie" and "nonsense".
The match itself was a good night for England. Rogers scored the opener in the Uefa Nations League game, and Harry Kane added a penalty on his record-breaking 126th appearance for the men's team. But Palmer, 24, had been left out of the squad after manager Thomas Tuchel said he "misses too many chances to impress". He was also left out of the World Cup squad, and he withdrew from the previous England camp in September, citing a minor injury.
Rogers, also 24, defended his friend directly. "He wants to be here," he said, adding that Palmer wanted to be called up and to represent his country as he always has. He described Palmer as having been in a low place with his injuries last year, not feeling fully himself on the pitch. Rogers argued that Palmer has to look after his body if he wants to play for another 10 or 15 years, and that managing himself in the short term for the greater good is something people should fully support. "It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England," he said, pointing to the joy and smile Palmer shows when he plays.
The numbers show why Palmer's England career has felt uneven. In the three years since his debut, he has won only 14 caps, scoring two goals, including one in the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain, and providing one assist. That contrasts with his club record of 50 Premier League goals and 24 assists. He was England's men's player of the year for 2023-24 after a run of strong form that included that strike in Berlin.
Under Tuchel, who succeeded Gareth Southgate, Palmer has featured in just three of 27 games. Patchy form last season, after he left Manchester City for Chelsea, contributed to him missing the summer World Cup, where England finished third after losing to Argentina in the semi-final. He was named in Tuchel's first squad after the tournament but pulled out, even though he had played in all of Chelsea's league games up to that point.
Tuchel addressed the situation this week. He said England have enough number 10s and are sticking with the players from the previous camp, having been happy with the two and a half weeks they spent together. "I guess everyone is desperate to play for England and Cole is no exception," he said, but added that it counts when players are in camp, and repeated that Palmer misses too many opportunities to impress. He also stressed it was "not personal", that England would never assume Palmer is unwilling to come, and that "the competition is on".
There is a precedent for a player returning from exclusion. Last October, Jude Bellingham was left out for a friendly against Wales and a World Cup qualifier against Latvia. The Real Madrid midfielder then became a key figure at the World Cup, scoring seven goals. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, also on Radio 5 Live, said Tuchel's handling of Bellingham was management designed to show him the team, not one player, was the star. Robinson said he wouldn't be surprised if Tuchel were doing the same with Palmer.
Whether Palmer's next call-up comes will depend on the competition Tuchel keeps describing, and on how Palmer's form and fitness hold up at Chelsea.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
He wants to be here. He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country.— Morgan Rogers, BBC Radio 5 Live
It's not personal. Cole is always in our mindset but the competition is on.— Thomas Tuchel, England manager
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