Former Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham believes Thomas Tuchel has made a costly error by leaving Cole Palmer out of England's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to BoyleSports, Sheringham argued that Palmer brings a rare, unpredictable quality to attacking play — one that no other player in the current England setup can replicate.

"I probably would have chucked Cole Palmer into the squad as well just to say to him go on and give us that bit of trickery that we need, when we need it. He's the kind of player that can open some doors no other players can. He's been a big player in big games for Chelsea too."

Sheringham pointed to Palmer's ability to produce decisive moments in high-stakes matches for Chelsea, suggesting those flashes of brilliance could have proven invaluable at the tournament.

"He comes and he goes with his little flashes and that could have been the icing on the cake for England in certain games."

The No. 10 debate

Sheringham also raised concerns about England's options in the number ten role, identifying Morgan Rogers as the squad's only natural fit in that position — but arguing that Palmer's contrasting style would have given Tuchel a genuine alternative.

"In my view, Morgan Rogers is the only No. 10 in the England squad for what I'm looking for from a player in that position. Maybe that's why you'd take Cole Palmer just to change it up when needed because they're very different players. Jude Bellingham can play there too but if England had Rogers and Cole Palmer, that would have been a nice option to have."

Tuchel's decision to omit Palmer was driven by the Chelsea midfielder's inconsistent club form, a difficult period with injuries, and limited influence during England training camps. The England manager opted instead for players who had enjoyed stronger domestic seasons and aligned more closely with his tactical vision for the tournament.

Tuchel also noted that Palmer had not consistently reached the decisive, influential levels he demonstrated during his standout previous seasons at Chelsea — leaving the door open for others to claim the spots in his final squad.