Chelsea star Cole Palmer tells Gareth Southgate he wants starts for England; reminds that he is an asset in shoot-outs
Chelsea star Cole Palmer has opened up about the differences between taking penalties for club and country in a major tournament. The forward feels there is a significant difference when taking spot-kicks for club and national teams.
The 22-year-old has already made his decision clear about taking a penalty if England’s game against Switzerland heads towards a shootout. The former Manchester City player joined Chelsea last season and quickly became the club’s leading penalty-taker.
Last campaign, Palmer found the back of the net nine times in nine attempts from the spot in the Premier League and scored 22 goals in the league. However, at the Euros, Palmer hasn’t had the start he expected, barely getting any minutes on the pitch.
Since his game against Slovenia, the forward has been given more minutes, including in England’s 2-1 win against Slovakia. Palmer is now hoping to start against Switzerland. If the game goes to shootouts, he will be open to taking one, and he explained how it feels to take penalties (h/t Mirror) speaking to BBC Radio 5:
“It is so different. I was talking about this the other day with someone. Everything. When you know you are going to take a penalty in a shootout, you start thinking.”
“And then there is the coin toss and everything. You have to stand there and watch everyone else take it; the pressure builds up and up and up. In a game, if you miss, there is still time to do something—to score.”
After his accomplishments at Chelsea, Palmer looks eager to establish himself on the international level. Therefore, Southgate should give the Chelsea forward a chance against Switzerland. He will certainly be ready to take a penalty if given the chance for the Three Lions against the Swiss.
There is indeed a big difference when preparing to score penalties, whether in a league match or a tournament. Scoring penalties is never easy, as you have to mentally prepare yourself to stand up and face the goalkeeper. It requires significant mental fortitude, and the pressure can be immense.
It’s all about the psychological challenge you have to overcome, on top of the goalkeeper’s antics to increase the pressure. However, for Palmer, it seems to have become a habit. As Chelsea’s leading penalty taker, he will be the first to take responsibility for England’s spot-kicks if the match goes into a shootout.
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