How Palmer and Foden lost ruthless Tuchel's battle for number 10 roles

Time can move very fast in football. The expected omissions of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden from England's World Cup squad are testimony to that.

Two years ago it would have been unthinkable that the pair could be left out.

Foden started the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain, Palmer came off the bench and scored as the future of the Three Lions.

Two players who progressed through the Manchester City academy together, a year apart. Destined to be crucial members of the England squad which would head to the United States in 2026.

Foden an attacking midfielder who Pep Guardiola made a star, Palmer who had to leave Etihad Stadium for Chelsea to make his mark.

Now their paths converge again, but as players omitted from England's World Cup squad.

Palmer had been the new kid on the block in Gareth Southgate's squad two years ago - after only making his first start in a pre-tournament friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Yet as Euro 2024 progressed, Palmer being left sitting on the bench was viewed as an indicator of Southgate's negative approach.

When Palmer came on against Spain, he equalised after just three minutes. Vindication for Southgate's critics.

Palmer was only 22 at the time and went on to be named England's men's player of the year and the PFA young player of the year. He had to be the future of England, a player who would be part of every tournament squad for years to come.

Foden, then 23, would be with him every step of the way. He won the senior PFA award that year - and it was fitting that the duo would collect their trophies at the Opera House in Manchester.

But while class may be permanent, form - for now - is temporary and this has cost both players a place at the World Cup.

Palmer scored 37 Premier League goals in his first two seasons at Chelsea.

But his form dipped this season. He still bagged nine goals in 25 Premier League appearances, but there was not the same zip or flash of brilliance. Those moments that had defined him had deserted him.

Foden's form has suffered just as badly as Palmer's - though over a longer period.

He netted six goals in five games during a purple patch just before Christmas. It hinted at a return to form, but he hasn't scored since.

It is a far cry from 2023-24 when he plundered 19 Premier League goals, and 27 in all competitions.

His backheel assist against Crystal Palace earlier this month was the exception rather than the rule as far as his performances went.

With such competition for places in the number 10 role, coach Thomas Tuchel did not have to be pick his squad on reputation.

Perhaps the key moment was in March, when Foden was given the chance to stake his claim against Uruguay.

With Harry Kane left out, Foden was deployed in the role. He failed to make any impact, floating around as a peripheral figure, dropping deep in search of the ball.

The experiment failed, and Foden was subbed off 11 minutes into the second half replaced, coincidentally, by Palmer.

Looking back now, it feels like that is where Foden's chance was gone, where Tuchel made up his mind.

Apart from a few exceptions, including perhaps another Manchester City player in John Stones, Tuchel has shown that reputation means little over form.

If standards drop there is a line of players waiting to take advantage.

Tuchel was always going to take Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, even though the England coach has expressed some doubts in the past.

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who netted Aston Villa's third goal in their 3-0 Europa League triumph over Freiburg, has been trusted by Tuchel throughout his tenure.

But Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, the joint top English scorer in the Premier League this season with 14 goals, has not done enough to get on the plane.

Gibbs-White has won six England caps, but not featured since the 3-0 friendly win over Wales in October.

It may be telling that his only competitive appearances under Tuchel came in the two World Cup qualifiers against minnows Andorra.

Despite scoring six goals in his past six club matches, it has not changed the coach's mind.

The winner looks like being Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, who has played consistently well on the ball even if the stats might not show it.

Seven goals and two assists in the Gunners' Premier League title-winning campaign does not seem impressive - but he netted three goals in six World Cup qualifiers for Tuchel.

Eze sat out the March friendlies through injury, opening the door for Foden and Palmer to force their way into Tuchel's plans.

England drew 1-1 with Uruguay and lost 1-0 to Japan, both hugely uninspiring performances.

So Eze's absence only served to prove to Tuchel just how important he could be in offering something different to Bellingham and Rogers.

Eze is a player who could add pace and unpredictability, to change the way the team is playing.

At one stage Foden and Palmer would be predicted to be starters, not even alternative options like Eze.

Now they have to live with the reality that they are not deemed good enough, on form at least, for the squad.