Rogers was named England’s standout player at Wembley on Thursday night. He used the microphone that came with it to defend a team-mate who was nowhere near Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
The Aston Villa midfielder opened the scoring in the 24th minute and set up a 2-1 win over Croatia that carried England into the Nations League quarter-finals. Harry Kane sealed it from the spot on a record 126th cap.
Asked about Palmer, dropped by Tuchel for this international window, Rogers was unusually sharp.
“It’s a lie. He wants to be here. He wanted to get called up and he wanted to come and represent his country as he always has done,” Rogers told reporters, according to Press News Agency.
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“It has nothing to do with England or not wanting to play with England. It’s a nonsense really that people are questioning someone that wants to play for England.”
A friendship that goes back to City’s academy
Rogers and Palmer came through Manchester City’s youth system together, and the Villa midfielder leaned on that familiarity to explain why his friend has been pulling out of camps.
He pointed to a recurring groin problem and to the wider pattern of injuries Palmer has battled throughout his career. Managing the body, Rogers argued, is not the same thing as snubbing the national team.
Tuchel’s selection call
Tuchel left Palmer out of the squad for the Croatia and Spain fixtures. Speaking to reporters on 6 November, the England manager told Irish News and others that Palmer had missed too many chances to impress and pointed to a crowded queue competing for the No. 10 shirt.
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“The door is always open, but nothing has changed, and we decided to do this camp without him,” Tuchel said.
The German coach also made clear he wanted to reward players who turn up for camp rather than withdraw, framing selection as a reward for those who commit.
Tuchel: fine for Rogers to speak up
After the Croatia win, Tuchel was asked about Rogers wading in on Palmer’s behalf and declined to escalate. He said it was fine for Rogers to defend his Chelsea team-mate and friend, then pivoted to praise the midfielder’s own performance, calling his emotional and physical commitment on the night the reason he was the standout player on the pitch.
Rogers himself added that Palmer has to look after a career he hopes will run another 10 to 15 years, and that short-term absences in service of long-term fitness should be accepted rather than framed as a lack of loyalty.
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England next travel to Madrid to face Spain in their final Group A3 fixture on Sunday, with top spot in the section still to play for.
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