Cole Palmer appears unfazed by his shock omission from England's World Cup squad. The Chelsea forward has broken his silence — and he is taking it all in his stride.
Speaking to SPORTbible, Palmer addressed his exclusion via an interview with i-D Magazine — his first public response since Thomas Tuchel named his 26-man squad in late May.
Palmer said: "I'm not crying over a decision you can't change, and I hope the lads make it all the way." Short, calm, and totally on brand for a player known for keeping his emotions in check.
Palmer also admitted the 2025/26 campaign "hasn't been the best, but it is what it is", before adding: "I'm going to relax this summer, rest for the first time in 3 or 4 years, before getting back to what I love."
He has been spotted holidaying in Ibiza as he looks to recharge ahead of what is sure to be another intensive campaign. On Instagram, he posted holiday snaps with just the caption: "Could be worse."
The Chelsea star scored in the Euro 2024 final against Spain two years ago but now faces a longer wait to make his first World Cup appearance after Tuchel overlooked him for the tournament in North America.
Tuchel insisted in a press conference that he did not want to take "five No 10s" and play some of them out of position. Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, and Eberechi Eze now fill that role in his 4-2-3-1 setup.
Tuchel made it clear his selection was founded on the players who performed well for him in the September, October and November international breaks — a series of matches Palmer missed completely.
Palmer scored 11 goals in 34 appearances in all competitions this season, ridden by injury throughout. Despite that, his culling still came as a surprise — he was immensely impactful off the bench at Euro 2024, scoring in both the Switzerland shootout and the final against Spain.
Former England striker Daniel Sturridge said: "I'm surprised by that one. I'm not saying Cole had an incredible season, but we know what he can do on the international stage — he's done it already. That's probably the biggest surprise for me."
The omission was even a surprise to England kit manufacturer Nike. Palmer was set for a prominent role and was one of the faces of the swoosh brand's 'Rip the Script' advert.
The long-term goal remains a return to the England setup, with Palmer hoping a refreshed start at Stamford Bridge will force Tuchel to reconsider his position. For now, though, the Ibiza sun will do just fine.
