Marc Cucurella hopes Cole Palmer will stay on the bench for Euro 2024 finals
Marc Cucurella has said he hopes Chelsea team-mate Cole Palmer will be on the bench for Sunday's Euro 2024 final.
The 25-year-old is preparing for the biggest game of his life and has been the best player not only in Spain, but in the tournament as well.
Cucurella has started every game except the last group game against Albania where he was rested, while the Spaniards were the team in form in Germany, winning all six of their games.
Cucurella hopes Palmer will stay on the bench
The former Brighton man could face Chelsea team-mates Palmer and Conor Gallagher in the showpiece event in Berlin, the first major final in Spain since 2012.
Palmer had to call time on his time in Germany after being overlooked for the first two games, but featured on the bench for the next four games, and set up Ollie Watkins' stunning last-minute winner against the Dutch.
Cucurella is well aware of the quality Palmer had at Chelsea last season, and speaking ahead of the final he said he had been in contact with the 22-year-old and hoped he would stay on the bench.
“I spoke to him, but it was more than a week ago, we spoke for a while in the previous rounds,” said Cucurella to Mundo Deportivo.
“For me, it's better if he doesn't play and stays on the bench.”
Cucurella will start the final and may get his wish for Palmer on the bench, but Southgate is more likely to turn to the former Manchester City man at some point during the game.
For Spain a win would see them win their first major title in 12 years, while a win for England would see them lift their second major title and end their 58-year wait for success.
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