Cole Palmer’s first season at Chelsea has been impressive. The 22-year-old forward scored 22 goals and assisted 11 in 33 Premier League games, quickly becoming one of the league’s top performers. These stats earned him a nomination for the Premier League Player of the Year award, notable considering his limited playing time at Manchester City just a year earlier.
However, his opportunities on the international stage have been more limited. In the European Championship group stage, he only appeared as a second-half substitute against Slovenia. Despite fans wanting him to start in the last-16 match against Slovakia, he was again a substitute, playing only the final 30 minutes as England chased an equalizer.
Roy Keane’s analysis and England’s Euro campaign
Roy Keane, speaking on The Overlap Special by Sky Bet, expects Palmer to continue in a secondary role for England’s quarter-final match against Switzerland. Keane explained that Gareth Southgate views Palmer and Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon as impact players, particularly effective when brought on late in the game.
Highlighting Southgate’s preference for using players like Palmer and Gordon during the final stages of matches, Keane noted the increasing trend of substitutes making significant contributions. He mentioned England’s late equalizer against Slovakia, orchestrated by Ivan Toney, as an example.
According to Keane, Palmer and Gordon are unlikely to start against Switzerland. He anticipates Southgate will bring them on later in the game, particularly if it’s closely contested. Southgate trusts Palmer and Gordon to make a significant impact when it matters most.
England’s performance in the Euros has yet to hit top form, but Keane insists that fans should focus on the results rather than the style of play. A victory over Switzerland, who recently knocked out the European champions Italy, would set up a semi-final clash with either Turkey or the Netherlands.
People should stop complaining about the performances from England because they are still in the tournament and that’s the most important thing
Roy Keane
Keane urged supporters to appreciate the team’s progress despite some underwhelming performances. He emphasized the importance of staying in the tournament, suggesting that early exits would be more frustrating than lackluster play. Keane stressed that while England’s recent form has been inconsistent, the presence of talented forwards capable of winning matches justifies the playing style.
In his final thoughts, Keane asserted that reaching the semi-finals or finals, even if the football isn’t attractive, would be satisfying for fans. He mentioned that if England were to progress playing “ugly” football, few would complain about it.
