Ferdinand's World Cup Selection Gripe: The Cole Palmer Gamble Tuchel Didn't Take

Rio Ferdinand reckons Thomas Tuchel got one major call wrong when naming his England squad for the World Cup in the United States.

Following the Three Lions' commanding 3-0 victory over Costa Rica in their final warm-up fixture before facing Croatia next Wednesday, Ferdinand outlined his admiration for the German tactician while simultaneously highlighting what he sees as a notable squad omission.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand acknowledged the broader debates surrounding Tuchel's selection decisions but zeroed in on one particular absence: Cole Palmer.

"I absolutely love him," Ferdinand said of Tuchel, recalling previous encounters in Paris. "But there's one thing I disagree with him on: Cole Palmer."

Ferdinand's reasoning centres on Palmer's proven pedigree in high-pressure environments. The Chelsea forward scored in the Euros final and was named the standout performer at the Club World Cup—a tournament contested in similar climatic conditions to those awaiting England this summer.

"If there's one player I would have definitely gambled on it would have been him," Ferdinand insisted. "He's shown he can be part of the squad and impact the biggest games."

The former Manchester United defender framed Palmer not as a starter but as a potential match-changer from the bench—a role in which Palmer has repeatedly delivered when it matters most.

When pressed on whether Morgan Gibbs-White might have deserved consideration instead, Ferdinand was emphatic. "He's not different," he said. "The best teams have something different that separates you from others, and Cole Palmer is that guy."

Ferdinand further suggested Jordan Henderson would have been the player to make way, emphasising that Palmer's unique ability to influence proceedings from the substitute's role made him the superior choice for a World Cup squad.

"This player we're talking about wasn't going to start the tournament," Ferdinand explained, "but he was the player that would hopefully provide a moment."