Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer Join Calls For Saka To Be Dropped For Cole Palmer

By The Editor
on 1st July 2024

Lineker and Shearer want Saka out of the team…

BBC pundits Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have echoed calls for Cole Palmer to replace Bukayo Saka in the England XI for Saturday’s clash against Switzerland, they said on The Rest Is Football podcast.

Palmer was introduced against Slovakia with 30 minutes of normal time left to play, with Southgate shifting Saka to left-back as suggested to him by the press.

The Chelsea star failed to live up to expectations during his 60 minutes on the pitch; creating no chances, having 0 shots at goal and completing just one of his dribbles.

That hasn’t prevented the aforementioned former England strikers wanting the 22-year-old to replace Saka, which follows the pre-tournament sentiment from around the punditry scene.

Michael Owen, Dean Ashton and many others were calling for Palmer to start the tournament as England’s right-winger ahead of Saka – indicating that this line of thinking isn’t based on the Three Lions’ form in Germany.

“I would keep Palmer in, I would bring (Anthony) Gordon in and I would keep Mainoo in,” Shearer said.

“Cole Palmer has got something about him, a confidence and swagger,” Lineker added.

Given the names mentioned, Shearer and Lineker are essentially imploring Southgate to start the England side trounced by Iceland in their final warm-up game at Wembley.

As an outsider looking in, the fact that there are consistent calls for Saka to be dropped considering what he’s produced in an England shirt is mind-boggling.

Saka has 27 goal contributions in 24 England starts and is the only squad member outside of Harry Kane with double-figure goals for the national side.

That’s before we mention what he’s produced at club level in the past few seasons – making him one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe.

Considering how much Southgate, just like England managers in the past, is swayed by pressure from the press, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he finally gives in and drops Saka.