Spanish media believe their national team “have a score to settle” with Cole Palmer in their Euro 2024 final against England on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate’s team secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday evening to advance to the European Championship final for the second consecutive tournament.
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Meanwhile, Spain also overcame a one-goal deficit to claim a 2-1 win in their semifinal against France on Tuesday night.
Sunday’s Euro 2024 final between England and Spain echoes the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final from last summer.
Palmer’s free kick, which heavily deflected off Curtis Jones just before halftime, was enough to give England a 1-0 victory over Spain, earning their first European Under-21 Championship trophy since 1984.
However, Chelsea’s star player incited a major brawl after he celebrated England’s goal directly in front of Spain’s bench.
Spain were outraged by Palmer’s celebration as he stared at their substitutes and coaching staff, prompting Spain’s players to confront the England midfielder angrily.
England coach Ashley Cole and Spain’s fitness coach Carlos Rivera were both ejected during the heated altercation between the two teams’ players and staff.
Alex Baena is the only player from Spain’s Under-21 squad participating in Euro 2024, but Spanish radio station Cadena COPE has not forgotten Palmer’s role in last year’s brawl and asserts that Luis de la Fuente’s team has a “score to settle” this Sunday.
Palmer’s celebration even upset his Manchester City teammate Sergio Gomez, who played for Spain in that final.
“I don’t know if we’ll talk or if he’ll say something to me. If he wants to apologize, let him, but the truth is that it wasn’t a good attitude,” Gomez said after Spain’s defeat.
“He wanted to celebrate it like that and that’s it. Everyone celebrates the way they want and we know how the English are.
“In the end they are the ones who make these provocations. He did it like that and there was a bit of a fuss.”
When asked about his celebration, Palmer said, “I was a bit frustrated with the way they were going down and screaming [earlier in the match]. The celebration was maybe a bit over the top but [I’m] just happy.”
Palmer has yet to start a game for England at Euro 2024 but has impressed in his four substitute appearances for Southgate’s team.
“In the first few games we didn’t play the best that we could and everyone knew that,” Palmer said at England’s training base on Thursday.
“But now I think as the tournament’s gone on, especially yesterday, I think we had our best game in the tournament, and that’s what you want going into the later stages.
“It’s huge. We played them last year in the Under-21s final, England versus Spain. Even that was a massive game, so I can’t imagine this one!”
