Gareth Southgate breaks silence on Cole Palmer situation.

 Chelsea | England | EURO2024 

No player made more direct goal contributions (i.e. goals+assists) in the Premier League this season than Cole Palmer, so you’d think that with a game on the line and England needing a goal, he would be at the top of the list of substitutes to come on and try to get that win.

But that’s evidently far too obvious for manager Gareth Southgate, who instead brought on Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, and Eberechi Eze, using just four of his five allotted subs (Conor Gallagher was the fourth, on earlier after yet another useless turn from Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield). Talented players in their own right — and Watkins was also up there with Palmer at the top of the Premier League charts — but Southgate giving Palmer a grand total of zero minutes through the first two games of Euro 2024 is becoming more and more baffling.

Harry Kane got England on the board early, finding a loose ball in the area to slot home, before Morten Hjulmand’s precise strike from range for his first international goal, well out of range of Jordan Pickford’s Kepa-arms, got Denmark level before half.

England are not in danger of not reaching the knockout rounds — especially with the other game in the group, between Slovenia and Serbia also ending a 1-1 draw, but their performances through the first two games have been far from impressive.

Recall,  Gareth Southgate had complained of selection problems especially in Palmer's position earlier before naming his squad for the Euros. He had said:

 “I said when I named the squad there is competition for places in those wide areas.

“We weren't 100 per cent certain what we would get whereas with Gordon we knew and [James] Maddison we knew. I wouldn't rule Cole out of that equation.”

Meanwhile,  fans spotted an awkward moment between the England boss and Palmer after the game.

Southgate embraced a number of players and did shake hands with Palmer, giving him a pat on the beck.

However the interaction was very brief and Palmer didn't appear to give much eye contact.

cole barely looking #him in the eye so true pic.twitter.com/0WB7ocsPWZ

— tills x5🏆 (@cwfcbrighty) June 20, 2024

 Naturally, it garnered plenty of reaction online.

One wrote: "Cole barely looking him in the eye so true."

A second commented: "Southgate has no business looking anyone in the eye after this disaster class."

A third reacted: "Make stupid decisions and then come to shake you."

Another added: "Surprised Southgate even knew he was there!"

England return to action with a final Group C against Slovenia, with plenty of clamour for Palmer to get the nod.