Joe Cole believes Cole Palmer-powered England are 'technically' best team in world ahead of Nations League fixtures
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Published 05/10/2024 at 13:02 GMT+1
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Cole Palmer did not start any of England's games at the European Championship in Germany over the summer, but having started this season in sparkling form, Joe Cole believes Lee Carsley has to fit Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden into the same team. Cole called England "better technically" than any other nation in the world, while Peter Crouch said Palmer has to be given a free role.
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Joe Cole believes England are “technically” the best nation in the world and should find a way to fit Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer into the same side.
Speaking ahead of Crystal Palace hosting Liverpool, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, Cole and Peter Crouch both agreed that the Chelsea midfielder needs to start for Lee Carsley’s England.
Despite omissions for Eberechi Eze and James Maddison, Carsley still has “an abundance of talent” at his fingertips for the Nations League clashes against Greece and Finland in the upcoming international break.
And Cole believes that no nation is better than England from a technical point of view.
“One thing we have,” said Cole. “We’ve got an abundance of talent, of technical players. For the first time, I think, in our history, where we’re better technically than any other country in the world, I believe.
“If we get them all on the pitch, we will control possession and I think that gives us a better chance of winning a tournament.”
Palmer played a supporting role for Gareth Southgate’s England at the European Championship over the summer, coming off the bench for all five of his appearances at the tournament.
But having netted six times and laid on four assists in six starts for Chelsea at the beginning of this season, Cole thinks Carsley has to make room for the 22-year-old alongside both Bellingham and Foden.
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“What have we got? We’ve got all of these great technicians and ball players. We have to have a formation where we’re controlling the ball," said Cole.
“Jude Bellingham has to play, Phil Foden has to play, Cole Palmer has to play. You have to get them in.
“There is [a way of doing that]. There’s even talk about playing Cole Palmer left wing back. Listen, I’m not quite sure how that will work."
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Crouch agreed with the former West Ham and Chelsea star’s assessment, adding that Palmer would benefit from being given the freedom to affect the game how he chooses.
“You play him where he wants to play,” insisted Crouch. “I think you’ve got to give him a free role. No, genuinely, there was a call for it with Foden last year. I mean, he was at the top of his game and I kind of wanted him to play a free role at the tournament.
“And then the same with Cole Palmer, I think he has to start games in a free role, central positions where he can pick up the ball. His creativity is on absolute fire.
“Hopefully, these two games, they’re winnable games and you want him to go and hopefully have the freedom.”
TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024/25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
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