Thomas Tuchel believes Cole Palmer has wasted yet another opportunity to play for England after the Chelsea star withdrew from the Three Lions' Nations League squad.
Palmer was a surprise omission from Tuchel's World Cup squad this summer, with an injury-hit 2025-26 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 due to a niggling injury.
Palmer has only played three times for England since Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate, 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," said Tuchel in a press conference ahead of their 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."
Tino Livramento, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice have all been ruled of our forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.
James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White have subsequently been called up and will join up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday.
— England (@England) September 21, 2026
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 are preparing for their first match since finishing third at the World Cup, when they beat France 6-4 following their semi-final defeat to Argentina.
And they take on Luis de la Fuente's world champions, who are unbeaten in each of their last 38 matches in all competitions (W29 D9), the longest ever streak by a European nation.
England have won just two of their last 13 games against the reigning World Cup holders, losing nine times (D2). Those wins came at home to Spain in November 2011 (1-0) and away to Germany in March 2016 (3-2).
The post Palmer misses too many opportunities to represent England, says Tuchel appeared first on SoccerNews.