Gareth Southgate acknowledges that he has positive dilemmas as Cole Palmer and Eberechi Eze receive praise following England’s victory against Bosnia.

Cole Palmer of England had a night to remember as he celebrated scoring his side’s first goal from the penalty spot during the international friendly match against Bosnia & Herzegovina. His performance, along with that of Eberechi Eze, has left England manager Gareth Southgate with some tough decisions to make ahead of Euro 2024.

In the first half of the game, both teams failed to find the back of the net. However, Eze and Palmer made a significant impact when they were given their first starts for the Three Lions. Their presence on the field helped England increase the tempo in the second half, leading to goals being scored from the 60th minute onwards.

Palmer showed composure as he converted a penalty awarded by VAR after Ezri Konza was fouled. Regular penalty taker Harry Kane was on the bench, but Palmer confidently slotted the ball into the net. This goal marked his 13th successful penalty in his professional career.

Trent Alexander-Arnold added a second goal with a stunning volley, and Kane, who came off the bench, sealed the victory with a third goal. Southgate praised the performance of his team, particularly the players with fewer than 10 caps, who started the game. He acknowledged the resilience of the opponents and expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance.

Southgate also highlighted the impressive displays of Eze and Palmer, who have been standout performers for Crystal Palace and Chelsea respectively this season. He praised Eze’s movement and power, while acknowledging that Palmer could have had more goals if he had taken his shots earlier.

When asked if the performances of Eze and Palmer had made his squad selection for Euro 2024 more difficult, Southgate admitted that it had given him some selection headaches, but he saw it as a positive sign. He preferred to have good performances that made him think about his choices.

Palmer himself acknowledged that there is room for improvement in his game but expressed his hope of making the squad for the tournament. He recognized that it had been a long season and that he was still finding his feet.

Captain Harry Kane was full of praise for Palmer, commending his incredible season at Chelsea, where he scored 27 goals and provided 15 assists across all competitions. Kane emphasized the importance of all players contributing with goals during the tournament and expressed his delight at Palmer’s goal in the friendly match.

While Palmer is still fighting for his place in the squad, there is no doubt that Kane will lead the line for England at Euro 2024. After a successful season with Bayern Munich, where he scored 44 goals, Kane took some time off towards the end of the season to rest and recover. He believes that this decision will benefit him in the tournament and is confident in his ability to regain his sharpness quickly.

Southgate confirmed that Kane will start in the final preparation game against Iceland, stating that he has trained well and looks in good shape. With the tournament just around the corner, England fans can expect to see Kane leading the line and Palmer pushing for a spot in the squad as the team prepares for Euro 2024.