England's shining lights? 

From the outside, it will seem ludicrous to leave out two of England's most talented individuals. 

In Phil Foden, they have a generational talent, who's already bagged six Premier League titles and not long ago was lauded as the best player in the Premier League with individual awards from both writers and his peers. 

While Cole Palmer became an overnight sensation after joining Chelsea from Manchester City in 2024 and stood out as one of the Premier League's best players of the past two seasons. 

Having the luxury of being able to include both in an England squad had fans dreaming of what could be achieved on the international stage, and both have had their moments wearing the Three Lions shirt. 

Foden came to life during Euro 2021, adding an extra element to Southgate's attack and played his way into the first team. With his dyed blond barnet, he had the potential to be England's modern version of Paul Gascoigne. 

As for Palmer, his game-changing prowess was on full display in the Euro 2024 final, when his goal got England back in the game and was so near to helping deliver that elusive major honour that the nation has been waiting sixty years for. 

Two years on, though, and neither one of them will have the chance to try again with the national team.

 
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Not good enough 

Yet, in truth, there hasn't been enough from either on the international stage, especially Foden. 

The City playmaker is one appearance away from reaching a century of caps for his country, but it's hard to really pick out - other than the small impact he made at the Euros in 2021 - any standout moments from his England career thus far. 

Those caps have only yielded four goals for a player who is more than proficient in front of goal, and he's never been able to nail down a position in the set-up he can call his own. An element of that is down to the personnel he's up against, but when given chances, the 25-year-old hasn't taken what we've seen from him in Manchester to his national team. 

For Palmer, he's had fewer chances. 14 caps for his country, even in a stellar breakout season, he wasn't given a run in the team, such was the competition around him. Yet, the Euros final is really his only major notable contribution to date. 

Inaki Esnaola/Getty Images

Season of woe 

Ultimately, though, their international records have little to do with a season where both have fallen short of their ridiculously high standards. 

Palmer has struggled with injury for the first time in his career and it's felt like his season has never really got going. 10 goals against the 18 and 25 he scored in the previous two campaigns just begin to tell the story. 

Those injuries have also seen him play just twice for Thomas Tuchel, too, which begs the question: Did the England boss actually ever see enough of him to be convinced of a role in his squad? 

As for Foden, his club form has been in decline for two consecutive seasons now. Since being the standout performer in 2024, the City attacker hasn't been able to command a regular spot in Pep Guardiola's side and his impact has decreased tenfold. 

He's still been included by Tuchel, but what he's seen is probably a watered-down version of the Foden that dominated this league not that long ago. 

So, given the evidence put in front of him, is it any real surprise that, despite their glowing reputations, Tuchel has decided that right now, neither Palmer nor Foden deserves a World Cup place. 

Instead, the German has gone for the players who he's seen have enhanced his England team and continued to perform domestically. They've earned their spot.

For once, reputation has been put to one side and the attacking options available to the Three Lions this summer should be ones that make a difference that maybe Palmer and Foden just couldn't make in 2026. 

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