"I woke up and found out what I missed": Palmer fell asleep at halftime of England's game
The Chelsea midfielder, who was left out of Tuchel's squad for the World Cup, admitted that he missed the end of the dramatic 3:2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16: "The game started at 2:00 AM in London."
One of the biggest surprises ahead of the 2026 World Cup was that Cole Palmer was not included in the England squad, but even as a fan, he managed to miss one of the Three Lions' greatest matches in the tournament.
The Chelsea midfielder told a press conference that he fell asleep at halftime during the dramatic 3:2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16, a game in which England completed a comeback despite playing with ten men. The reason, according to him, was the broadcast time, as the game started at 2:00 AM London time.
"I was watching the game, but I fell asleep at halftime," Palmer admitted with a smile.
The non-selection of the 24-year-old, alongside other senior players like Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, sparked much criticism when Thomas Tuchel's squad was announced in May. The England manager explained at the time that he preferred to build a balanced and cohesive squad in terms of team spirit, rather than relying solely on individual talent.
Palmer accepted the decision with understanding and said after the squad announcement: "This season hasn't been my best, but it is what it is. I'm not going to dwell on a decision that cannot be changed, and I hope the guys go all the way."
As is known, in the end, England was eliminated in the semifinals after a 2:1 loss to Argentina, but finished the tournament in third place after a 4:6 victory over France in a goal-filled match.
