MARC CUCURELLA has sparked a banter battle of “Stamford Fringe” – with an odd comment about Chelsea team-mate Cole Palmer’s hair.
The Euro 2024 winner reckons England‘s brightest hope has just one flaw – but it’s a mane weakness.
If Cucurella is to be believed, there’s plenty of dazzle in Palmer‘s footwork, but not much frazzle in his mop.
The Spaniard himself sports one of football’s most lavish, curly barnets.
And he’s courted controversy before, singing “Haaland trembles, Cucurella is coming” in his Euros celebration – with the Manchester City striker promptly responding by scoring against him in the Premier League.
Now the wing-back has said of Palmer: “There’s not much strength in the hair, but if that’s his only problem, then he’s all right.”
But Cucurella’s verdict came amid glowing praise to The Guardian for the 22-year-old.
Palmer came off the bench for the fifth time at the Euros to revive England with a classy late equaliser in the final, only for Spain to win 2-1.
And Cucurella’s admiration has soared further since then.
Palmer has notched six goals and five assists in seven Prem matches so far this term.
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That means from a career total of 59 top-flight games he’s netted 28 times and notched 17 assists.
Cucurella said: “If you see him not in his kit you would never in your life say he was a footballer, but then on the pitch … he shoots and it doesn’t seem like he is hitting it hard but he scores them all.
“He’s very different. I don’t know how to explain it: he’s special. We’re very lucky we have him.
“We’re lucky he didn’t play much in the Euros either because he came on and almost messed it up for us.
“If he carries on like this, he’ll be among the best.”
And despite Cucurella’s misgivings about Palmer’s hair, it was the starlet’s parting – from Manchester City in September 2023 – that super-charged his rise.
It also means he’s suddenly regarded as a key Three Lions player.
Interim chief Lee Carsley is expected to hand Palmer his fourth England start in Sunday’s Nations League clash away to Finland, following Thursday’s 2-1 Wembley defeat against Greece.
By Tom Barclay
LEE CARSLEY’S tactical experiment of playing no strikers backfired as Vangelis Pavlidis’ double secured an emotional shock win for Greece at Wembley.
Interim England boss Carsley played all three of our nation’s gifted No10s – Phil Foden, Jue Bellingham and Cole Palmer – in varying positions.
But it did not work and the Greeks took a deserved lead thanks to Pavlidis’ belting second-half finish.
The visitors then held up a shirt in celebration bearing the name Baldock – in reference to their team-mate George Baldock, whose passing at the age of just 31 on Wednesday rocked the world of football.
Bellingham looked to have ensured the points were shared with a thunderous strike with three minutes to go.
But there was still time for Pavlidis to expose some woeful defending deep into injury time by firing past Jordan Pickford.
Here are SunSport’s player ratings from a dire night for England under the arch.
Jordan Pickford: 4
Wandered into no-man’s-land territory outside his box early on and lost the ball, allowing Greek skipper Tasos Baksetas a free shot at goal – only to be saved by Levi Colwill’s last-gasp clearance. Did not instil confidence, despite his experience.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6
Some tasty passes – they are his speciality, after all – but not great at the back. He, John Stones and Cole Palmer were weak in their attempt to close down Vangelis Pavlidis before the Benfica man smashed home the opener.
John Stones: 5
Made captain for what was his 82nd cap, surpassing Rio Ferdinand’s haul. But it was a shaky display from his defence and Stones should have done better to stop Pavlidis.
Levi Colwill: 7
Greece would have been ahead far sooner were it not for Colwill’s athletic hack away to deny Bakasetas. Replays showed it would have crossed the line had the Chelsea man been a split second later with his incredible intervention.
Rico Lewis: 6
Tried to bomb up the left flank where he could but, just like Kieran Trippier at the Euros, was hamstrung by constantly having to cut back onto his favoured right foot.
Declan Rice: 6
Played as England’s only holding midfielder, as fans had been imploring Gareth Southgate to use him for years. It was not like he was overrun but his side did look vulnerable on the counter.
Phil Foden: 4
Spent most of the game pressing the Greek backline as a false nine without really getting on the ball and causing any damage. Ineffective.
Cole Palmer: 6
Deployed in a deeper, central-midfield role which at least meant he saw plenty of the ball, though he blazed England’s best chance of the first half over the bar. Remarkably, his first competitive England start, despite being named on Tuesday as Three Lions player of the 2023-24 season.
Bukayo Saka: 5
Struggled to get into the game and then was forced out of it, worryingly limping off early in the second half. The last thing Arsenal fans wanted to see.
Jude Bellingham: 7 STAR MAN
Played in a false nine position and had a belting early shot well saved. The system did not work but Bellingham still so nearly emerged as the saviour by banging in his first goal of the season for club and country.
Anthony Gordon: 5
Caused Greece few problems and his touch looked off it. Had a decent chance from Alexander-Arnold’s peach of a delivery but headed over.
SUBS:
Noni Madueke (for Saka 52): Played out on the left, rather than his natural right, when coming on. Went down in the box deep into injury time but no penalty was given. 6
Ollie Watkins (for Gordon 60): Almost scored with his first touch when played through by Palmer, but smashed just over. 7
Dominic Solanke (for Foden 72): Grabbed an assist when laying the ball back to Bellingham who thumped in the leveller. 7
Manager Lee Carsley: 4
Seemed to gamble unnecessarily with this experimental system instead of playing it safe to add another win to boost his case to earn the job full-time. Carsley played without a natural centre-forward when winning the Under-21 Euros because he had to after Flo Balogun switched the USA and Rhian Brewster got injured, but here he did it by choice and it did not work. Bellingham looked to have saved his bacon – but then Pavlidis struck again.
