Cole Palmer opens up about the ‘frustrating’ European Championship experience with England.

**‘Couldn’t Quite Believe It’ – Harwood-Bellis on ‘Such a Proud Moment’ of England Call-Up**

Cole Palmer has expressed his frustrations regarding the limited game time he experienced during England’s Euro 2024 campaign in Germany last summer. The Three Lions, after a promising start, fell at the final hurdle for the second consecutive European Championship, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Spain in Berlin. Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal sealed their fate.

Palmer entered the tournament riding high on the back of a stellar debut season with Chelsea, where he netted an impressive 27 goals and provided 15 assists. However, his contributions were largely confined to the bench, as he managed just 145 minutes of play under Gareth Southgate, all of which came as a substitute.

“It was frustrating at England, to be fair,” Palmer reflected in an interview with GQ, recalling his time in Germany. “Not to say that the players aren’t good. But just coming off the back of the season I had, the form I was in, everything I was doing was coming off. So I’m not playing in the first two games even when the team was struggling, it was a bit like, ‘Why?’ Do you know what I mean?”

The tournament began positively for England, with Jude Bellingham scoring the winner against Serbia. However, the team then faced back-to-back draws against Denmark and Slovenia, leaving them in a precarious position.

“If you bring me on in the third game and I don’t do anything, then I can’t really say anything,” Palmer added. “I just had to try and force my way in.”

Palmer finally got his chance in the third group stage match, coming off the bench for 19 minutes and delivering a promising performance that caught Southgate’s attention. He was subsequently called upon for significant minutes in the round of 16 and quarter-final matches, both of which required extra time. Notably, he converted his penalty against Switzerland, helping England secure a place in the semi-finals.

However, his semi-final experience was bittersweet. Palmer featured for just 10 minutes against the Netherlands, as Southgate opted for Ollie Watkins to chase a late goal with the score tied at 1-1. “I remember Watkins coming on, and I was thinking, ‘Why not me?’” Palmer admitted candidly.

Eventually, the former Manchester City forward was introduced and played a crucial role in setting up Watkins for a goal that propelled England into their second successive European Championship final. Once again, Palmer found himself making an impact from the bench, quickly equalising with a low strike from the edge of the box just three minutes after his introduction.

“I had a feeling I was going to score,” Palmer recalled, reflecting on the moment. “Even in the hotel the night before the game, I was just looking at the mirror, just thinking, What am I gonna do if I score? Am I gonna do my celebration? Am I just going to go mad?”

In the end, he opted for his trademark ‘cold’ celebration, a move that Chelsea fans have come to adore throughout the season.

As the current campaign unfolds under new boss Enzo Maresca, Palmer has continued to shine for Chelsea, having already scored seven goals in 11 Premier League appearances, alongside five assists. His form suggests that he is ready to make a significant impact, both at club level and for the national team in the future.