Palmer and Rice among 5 players ruled out of England matches in Nations League

Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer is among five England players ruled out of upcoming Nations League matches due to injury issues, England’s national team said Monday. Palmer, along with Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice, Tino Livramento and Kobbie Mainoo, will miss games against world champion Spain, Croatia and the Czech Republic (twice). Replacements have been called up for the internationals: Everton midfielder James Garner and Nottingham Forest creator Morgan Gibbs-White. The withdrawals deny Palmer another chance to impress coach Thomas Tuchel after he was left out of England’s World Cup squad, where the team reached the semifinals before losing to Argentina. Palmer played the full 3-0 loss at Brentford on Friday.