Roy Keane has wasted no time in delivering his usual brutally honest assessment of Cole Palmer’s surprise omission from England’s 2026 World Cup squad. The Manchester United legend, never one to beat around the bush, put the blame squarely on the Chelsea forward rather than manager Thomas Tuchel, whose 26-man selection is one of the most talked-about England squads in recent memory.
Keane said, of Palmer and others who missed out:
“I think if you can’t get into a squad of 26, that’s on you. That is on the player, you’ve not done enough to convince that manager. Don’t blame anyone else!”
Palmer endured a dreadful fitness battle during the 2025-26 campaign, managing just 11 goals and 3 assists in 40 games, a shadow of the player who had lit up the Premier League just two seasons earlier. A series of recurring muscle and groin problems disrupted his momentum throughout the season, and he even withdrew from an England camp after aggravating a muscle problem ahead of a club game against Arsenal.
Tuchel Stands Firm as Palmer’s World Cup Dream Is Put on Hold
The omission is all the more glaring given how much Palmer had progressed as an international footballer. At Euro 2024, he had a moment to remember, coming off the bench in the final against Spain to score an equaliser from outside the box.
That moment only intensified the pain of his absence from the World Cup stage for supporters who had seen him as a cornerstone of England’s attack. Tuchel himself said his decisions were not easy and that the days leading up to the announcement were full of many painful phone calls. Thomas Tuchel defended his choices, admitting he had left behind some exceptional talent.
For Palmer it was a combination of things that would ultimately seal his fate. Tuchel said the decision boiled down to Palmer’s form at club level, along with injury concerns and competition from the likes of Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers.
The controversy extended beyond the squad itself, with England fans voicing widespread frustration at Tuchel’s decision and suggesting the talent left at home could be costly for the Three Lions’ prospects in North America this summer. Palmer, meanwhile, has the whole World Cup to think about what went wrong and to fuel a response next season that leaves no doubt about his quality. The onus is on the player, and as Keane was very clear, the key to altering his international destiny lies solely with Palmer.