Chelsea ace Cole Palmer did something in 10 minutes at Euro 2024 that Jude Bellingham has thus far failed to achieve
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, outshining compatriot Jude Bellingham, had a memorable cameo in England's thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday (July 10).
Coming on for the last 10 minutes of the clash at Signal Iduna Park as Gareth Southgate sought a winner to avoid a third-straight extra time, Palmer set up fellow substitute Ollie Watkins' 90th-minute winner. That put the Three Lions into successive European Championship finals for the first time.
Cole Palmer - who scored in the 5-3 quarter-final shootout win over Switzerland after coming off the bench - now has more assists (1) than Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden combined (both zero).
It's pertinent to note that Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been regular starters for Southgate at Euro 2024.
While Foden is yet to open his account, Bellingham has scored twice in five games, including a sensational stoppage-time equaliser in the 2-1 extra-time win over Slovakia in the Round of 16.
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer, 22, hasn't started a game at the competition. The Chelsea attacker has logged in a cumulative 125 minutes across four games, notching up an assist and a penalty in a shootout (doesn't count in his goal stats).
"We felt we needed more legs up front" - England boss explains bringing on Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Watkins as Jude Bellingham and Co. reach Euro 2024 final
England boss Gareth Southgate couldn't have timed his substitutions better in the Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands in Dortmund, especially bringing on Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins.
Making a double change around the 80th-minute mark, the gaffer threw Watkins and Palmer to the mix, respectively replacing Kane and Phil Foden. The move worked like a charm, as 10 minutes later, Palmer set up Watkins' winner.
Explaining the ratinonale behind his substitutions, Southgate said (as per UEFA.com):
"We felt we needed some more legs up front. Harry (Kane) had taken a knock when he won the penalty in the first half.
"You know that Ollie can press a little better, and he will make those runs that are a problem for defenders early in a game but definitely later. There are moments when it comes off, and everybody's delighted."
Barring any injury, Southgate is expected to bring on Chelsea's Palmer from the bench against Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday (July 14) in Berlin as Jude Bellingham and Co. hope to land their first major title in 58 years.