Spain worldwide Marc Cucurella has revealed the similarities between Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer and compatriot Lamine Yamal forward of Sunday’s Euro 2024 remaining in opposition to England.
After having fun with a beautiful debut season for the Blues, Palmer was included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the match in Germany however has been restricted to 126 minutes of sport time, all coming instead.
Nonetheless, he made an important contribution within the semi-final victory over the Netherlands, offering the help for Ollie Watkins’ dramatic winner.
Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal is considered one of Spain’s greatest threats, having loved a beautiful run of type through the competitors up to now.
Requested by The Athletic if there was one England participant he struggles to defend in opposition to, Cucurella backed membership teammate Palmer and named some similarities between him and Yamal.
He mentioned: “He has not performed so much at Euro 2024, however it needs to be Cole Palmer. His soccer mind works so rapidly, he’s at all times a step forward of the remaining. His decision-making is nearly at all times wonderful, and that type of intelligence is probably the most tough factor to defend in opposition to, you simply cannot predict what he’ll do subsequent. I’ve suffered so much in coaching.
“He jogs my memory a number of Lamine Yamal. Identical fashion of participant. He’s a man who doesn’t care an excessive amount of about something. They do not take life or themselves too critically. If you happen to bumped into Palmer within the streets, you’d by no means inform he’s a footballer. However then he performs and…oof.
“He arrived at a tricky time for Chelsea, when the crew was struggling, and he made an affect from the beginning. That helped him so much to continue to grow and getting extra assured. If you happen to handle to get these sorts of gamers in a state of affairs of confidence, they make the distinction. I am so blissful and hope he carries on like this…however after this weekend!
“He’s a particular character. He’s so severe. When folks see him, it is not like he’s immediately likeable. It is tough to clarify, however when any teammate sees me they immediately know I’m up for a joke and that we will have interaction in that approach. However he’s at all times so severe.
“Nonetheless, we acquired alongside properly, actually rapidly, because the first coaching periods. We had been doing mini-matches in coaching, five-a-side, and the coaches put us collectively in some. From there, we clicked. At any time when we had been on the identical crew, we’d by no means lose. We had this joke of being the successful crew and that is how our good bond began.”
Cucurella has loved a renaissance with Spain at Euro 2024 after beforehand being lambasted for errant shows at Stamford Bridge and can begin at left-back in Berlin.
