June 25th 2024.
In England's recent match against Slovenia, Cole Palmer proved to be a major threat on the attack. However, coach Gareth Southgate remained tight-lipped about whether Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo would be starting in England's upcoming Euro 2024 last-16 tie this Sunday.
Despite finishing at the top of Group C with five points, England's performance in the goalless draw against Slovenia on Tuesday evening was far from inspiring. This means that they will now face one of the best third-placed teams in the last 16, which could potentially be the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, or Belgium.
Mainoo made an appearance in the second half of the match against Slovenia and impressed with his performance in the heart of England's midfield. On the other hand, Palmer made his first appearance in this summer's tournament when he replaced Bukayo Saka in the 71st minute. The talisman from Chelsea quickly became England's biggest attacking threat.
There have been calls for both Palmer and Mainoo to start in England's first game of the knockout stage, but Southgate did not give any clear indication in his post-match press conference. When asked about Palmer's performance, he simply stated that he showcased the same skills that he had been displaying in training.
Southgate also mentioned that he and Mainoo had planned to get them involved in the match, as they bring something different to the team. Their initial plan was to start with Conor Gallagher, as they believed it would improve their pressing game. However, they were not able to win the ball high enough up the pitch and were unable to utilize Gallagher's forward runs to exploit the opposition's defense.
Therefore, Mainoo was brought into the game to help connect the midfield. Southgate was pleased with the outcome and highlighted a near-goal opportunity where Anthony Gordon, Mainoo, and Palmer worked together in perfect harmony.
He also emphasized the importance of the players understanding that they will have opportunities to play if they continue to train well and support the team. With the option of five substitutions, Southgate knows that he has a strong bench that can change the game at any moment.
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