July 5th 2024.
Roy Keane recently discussed England's performance at Euro 2024, shedding light on manager Gareth Southgate's decision to not start Cole Palmer despite his impressive form for Chelsea. Palmer, who had a remarkable first season at Stamford Bridge with 22 goals and 11 assists in 33 Premier League games, was struggling to get playing time at Manchester City just a year ago. Now, the 22-year-old is considered one of the best players in England and has even been nominated for the Premier League player of the year award.
Despite his outstanding season, Palmer has only made one appearance during the group stage of the European Championship, coming on as a substitute in the second half against Slovenia. Many fans were hoping to see him start in the last-16 tie against Slovakia, but he was once again benched and only brought on with 30 minutes left as England tried to equalize.
According to Keane, it is likely that Palmer will also be benched for England's quarter-final match against Switzerland on Saturday. The former Manchester United captain believes that Southgate sees Palmer, as well as Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon, as impact players who can make a difference coming off the bench. Keane also pointed out that this has been a common trend in the tournament, with many players having a big impact as substitutes in the second half.
England has yet to showcase their best performance in Germany, but Keane believes that the most important thing is for the team to keep winning. If they are successful in beating Switzerland, who knocked out European champions Italy in the previous round, they will face either Turkey or the Netherlands in the semi-finals.
While some may criticize England's performances, Keane believes that the team's success in the tournament is the most important factor. He also pointed out that fans should not forget the team's brilliant attacking players who have been able to rescue them from difficult situations. Keane acknowledged that England may not have been playing consistently well, but having match-winning players in the team is what ultimately matters.
In the end, Keane reassured fans that even if England continue to play "ugly" and make it to the semi-finals or even the final, no one will complain about it. The team's success is what truly matters and Keane believes that it is possible for England to go all the way in the tournament.
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