Tuchel cautions Palmer over England withdrawal

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Palmer was a surprise omission from Tuchel's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, with an injury-hit 2025-2026 campaign impacting his form and resulting in him being left out.

However, Palmer has started the new season with the bit between his teeth, scoring two goals as well as providing two assists in five Premier League games for Chelsea.

But the 24-year-old, along with Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo have all dropped out, with Palmer's reasoning because of a niggling injury.

Palmer has only played three times for England since Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate as coach, and the Three Lions boss said his latest withdrawal could hinder his chances of future call-ups with the European championships on the horizon.

"For sure, it's a missed opportunity," Tuchel said ahead of his side's UEFA Nations League opener against Spain at Wembley Stadium. "It's another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities.

"I don't blame him for it, it's just a fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries. I only want to rely on what I personally witness and see within my team.

"For that you have to be in camp. If you are not in camp, there is the next level of impression that you cannot achieve, because you can only do it with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch. It is a missed opportunity."

Tuchel said he was not worried players may put their clubs above playing for their country.

"We are not managing the load. When I was in club football, I used the term 'international break' and, when you hear it from the other side, it is a totally different picture," he added.

"It is a competitive environment, but it is also an environment that the players love to be a part of.

"That is what togetherness and brotherhood look like, and that is what we have created since last September in qualifying. We will never compromise on that.

"We will never let it creep in that we have a feeling players do not want to come. We focus on the guys who absolutely want to play for England."

England is preparing for its first match since finishing third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when it beat France 6-4 after its semi-final defeat to eventual runner-up Argentina.