The England national team did what they usually do in the group stages, which is play thoroughly uninspiring football yet skate by to the knockouts because of the ease of their group.
Chelsea attacking midfielder Cole Palmer proved to be a rare bright spot off the bench in their most recent 0-0 draw to Slovenia, making the most of a 19-minute cameo.
Frustratingly, Palmer, who scored 22 goals with 11 assists for Chelsea last season, has yet to start a match for England at Euro 2024, but, at this point, everyone is clamoring for him to enter the XI.
Clearly, Palmer and Anthony Gordon should be starting for England as attacking difference-makers coming off seasons in which they were the best players in the Premier League at their respective positions.
Palmer is getting support from all corners, including, surprisingly enough, from the Arsenal circle, as a Gunners’ club icon believes Gareth Southgate should sacrifice one of his club’s stars to accommodate Palmer on the right wing.
Yes, former Arsenal attacker Ian Wright believes England should move Arsenal right winger Bukayo Saka to left back so that Chelse attacking midfielder and right winger Cole Palmer can start on the right side of the England attack.
Wright said, “I’m thinking, how are we going to get Palmer into the team if that’s the case? If that’s the case, with how naturally left-sided Saka is, maybe can you put Saka in at left-back and put Palmer on the right-hand side? Simply because we need to get some balance and get some fluidity in the game.”
Saka has played at left back before and is decent enough in that role. England don’t have an actual left back besides the injured Luke Shaw, so the Arsenal star playing in relief of Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier is feasible.
But the broader statement of a two-time Arsenal Player of the Season taking Chelsea’s best player over Arsenal’s best player in their preferred position for the national team is a major one.
It says that Wright believes Chelsea’s Palmer offers more to the England national team than Arsenal’s Saka, and, based on what fans have seen at Euro 2024, it’s a reasonable statement.
Saka was below his standard against Serbia with no chances created, poor in the draw with Denmark, and downright woeful in the 0-0 result against Slovenia.
Palmer has provided more of a spark and was arguably better than Saka last season anyway, with the Chelsea breakout superstar scoring 6 more goals and providing 2 more assists than the Arsenal man despite playing fewer minutes.
