Not long ago, it seemed impossible to imagine Cole Palmer and Phil Foden missing out on England’s World Cup squad. Both players had emerged as central figures in the national team’s future and were expected to play major roles at the tournament in the United States.
Foden started England’s Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain, while Palmer came off the bench to score the equaliser that briefly revived hopes of victory. The pair, who both developed through Manchester City’s academy system before Palmer moved to Chelsea, looked destined to lead England’s next generation together.
Instead, their careers have unexpectedly converged again in far less positive circumstances. Both attacking midfielders are now expected to be omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s squad after difficult domestic seasons and underwhelming recent performances.
The shift has been dramatic considering their status only two years ago. Palmer was later named England men’s player of the year as well as the PFA young player of the year, while Foden collected the senior PFA award after a prolific campaign for Manchester City.
Dip in form leaves both players vulnerable
Palmer’s rise had been rapid under Gareth Southgate. Before Euro 2024, he had made only one England start in a warm-up match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, yet as the tournament progressed, many supporters questioned why he was not playing more often.
His goal shortly after coming on in the final against Spain strengthened those arguments and further increased expectations around his future with the national side. However, although Palmer scored 37 Premier League goals across his first two seasons with Chelsea, his latest campaign lacked the same sharpness and creativity.
The Chelsea midfielder still managed nine league goals in 25 appearances, but the explosive moments that previously defined his game appeared far less frequently. That decline opened the door for competitors in England’s attacking positions.
Foden’s struggles have lasted even longer. After scoring six goals in five matches before Christmas, there were signs he might rediscover the form that brought him 19 Premier League goals and 27 in all competitions during the 2023-24 season. Instead, his production faded again, and he has not scored since that brief purple patch.
Tuchel’s decisions shaped by performances rather than reputation
Competition for the number 10 role left Tuchel unwilling to rely purely on reputation. According to the article, a key moment arrived in March during England’s match against Uruguay.
With Harry Kane unavailable, Foden was given an opportunity in the central attacking role but struggled to influence the game. He drifted deep in search of possession and rarely threatened before being substituted early in the second half, with Palmer replacing him.
Looking back, that performance now appears to have heavily influenced Tuchel’s thinking. England’s subsequent results — a 1-1 draw against Uruguay and a 1-0 defeat to Japan — did little to strengthen the claims of either Palmer or Foden.
The England manager has instead rewarded players who consistently delivered strong displays. Apart from a few established names such as John Stones and Jude Bellingham, Tuchel has shown little hesitation in overlooking reputation if performances decline.
Rogers and Eze seize their opportunities
Morgan Rogers has become one of the players trusted most by Tuchel during his time as England manager. The Aston Villa midfielder strengthened his case further by scoring in Villa’s 3-0 Europa League victory against Freiburg.
Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White also enjoyed an impressive domestic season, finishing as the joint highest-scoring English player in the Premier League with 14 goals. Despite that return, he has not played for England since the friendly victory over Wales in October and only featured under Tuchel against Andorra in World Cup qualifiers.
The player who appears to have benefited most from the situation is Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze. Although his return of seven goals and two assists during Arsenal’s title-winning league campaign may not appear exceptional statistically, Tuchel values his influence on matches differently.
Eze scored three goals in six World Cup qualifiers and offers qualities the England coach believes can complement Bellingham and Rogers. His ability to provide pace, unpredictability, and variation in attack became even clearer during his injury absence in March, when England struggled creatively against Uruguay and Japan.
At one stage, Palmer and Foden looked certain starters for England rather than players competing for backup roles. Now, based on current form, they face the reality of being left outside Tuchel’s World Cup plans altogether.