According to Goal.com, Chelsea star Cole Palmer shared an amusing anecdote from the World Cup: he fell asleep during the first half of England's Round of 16 match against Mexico while watching the game.

The 24-year-old Palmer recounted the story during Chelsea's preseason tour in Australia. He drew laughter at a press conference, saying, "Yeah, I watched the game, but I fell asleep in the first half." The match he referred to was originally scheduled to kick off at 2 AM GMT but was delayed by an hour due to a thunderstorm.

Unexpected Omission

The Chelsea midfielder was one of the most surprising omissions from England's 26-man squad. Head coach Thomas Tuchel's decision initially surprised many, despite Palmer's strong club performances.

Palmer stated that following the games from afar wasn't easy: "Obviously, I was far away, and the kick-off times in America were a bit crazy, so it was a bit difficult, but I did watch the game."

Despite falling asleep in the first half, Palmer missed one of England's most significant World Cup victories in history. The Three Lions, playing with 10 men, still managed a resilient win at Mexico's home ground, the famous Azteca Stadium.

Omission Becomes Motivation for Revenge

The English player did not hide his disappointment about missing the World Cup and stated that this would be a significant motivation for the upcoming season, pushing him to continue proving his worth.

He declared firmly, "If someone tells you you're not good enough to be in the squad, you naturally work harder." This statement was clearly directed at Tuchel and the England coaching staff.

Palmer also mentioned that the omission allowed him much-needed rest and recovery time. The 2025-26 season is long, and he had suffered multiple injuries, impacting his physical condition.

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