Why Are Cole Palmer & Phil Foden Not Playing Today in England vs Croatia?

England return to UEFA Nations League duty with a match against Slaven Bilić's Croatia, and the biggest talking point before kick-off is the absence of two of the Premier League's most gifted playmakers.

The Three Lions are still rebuilding after losing the World Cup semi-final to Argentina in July, and Tuchel has used this camp to look at new faces, including first-time call-ups Jobe Bellingham and Josh King.

England sit second in Group A3 behind Spain and need just a point to reach the quarter-finals, while a Croatia side beaten 7-0 by England in October are fighting to save their campaign.

So, is Cole Palmer playing today? And is Phil Foden playing today? Sportsdunia finds out the reasons behind their absence from the England vs Croatia squad in this article.

Cole Palmer and Phil Foden to Miss England vs Croatia

The answer to ‘Is Cole Palmer playing today?’ and ‘Is Phil Foden playing today?’ is the same: neither of the two players will be featuring in this match. Neither of the Manchester City academy products are suffering from an injury.

Instead, they were simply not picked when Thomas Tuchel named his squad on November 6. Palmer was overlooked for the World Cup after a stop-start season with injuries and then withdrew from the last camp with a minor fitness issue, but Chelsea's medical checks have reportedly confirmed he is fully fit again.

Tuchel has said that ‘the door is always open’ and that 'it's not personal', while stressing that ‘it matters what you do in camp’. Phil Foden, meanwhile, has six goal involvements in six games for Manchester City but remains out of favour, with no specific reason given for his omission.

The unavailability of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden in England vs Croatia means the creative load will fall on Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and Gordon, who are all predicted to start behind Kane, with Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson holding the midfield.

Kane could also set a new England men's appearance record if he plays. The squad has been hit elsewhere too, with Marc Guéhi out with a hip injury, Ezri Konsa following his own programme and Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended, so Tuchel's options are thinner than usual.

Palmer and Foden might have had a case on form, but Tuchel has been consistent since the World Cup in preferring players who attend camp and fit a clear role.

It remains to be seen how well the England national football team's makeshift lineup copes against a Croatia side with Luka Modrić, Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić in it, and which can still cause damage on its day.