Awkward moment England star is featured in Nike World Cup advert despite not being in squad
Fans have been reacting to the awkward moment England star Cole Palmer is featured in Nike's World Cup advert despite not being picked in the Three Lions squad.
The Chelsea midfielder is captured wearing England's kit and dribbling with the ball in a star-studded cast that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Palmer was one of the big names to miss out on the England squad, alongside Phil Foden, Harry Maguire and Lewis Hall.
Football fans have been reacting to the awkward inclusion of the 24-year-old.
One social media user said: "They got Palmer in there representing England like he's going."
Another said: "Funny how Cole Palmer is the only player in there who's not going to get the World Cup."
One other wrote: "They thought they'd call Palmer. Awkward."
The Chelsea star has endured a mediocre season with the Blues, having been injured for a large spell.
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The commercial featured several footballing stars from across the years, including legends Didier Drogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Cantona.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala also feature in the advert.
Away from football, the sports brand brought in Channing Tatum, who appeared as a double for Haaland, and Kim Kardashian.
Basketball legend LeBron James is also featured in a clip alongside Ronaldo.
Palmer's exclusion comes as England begins their World Cup preparation in the US.
The Three Lions could face lengthy delays during their World Cup campaign amid growing concerns over extreme weather in the States.
With thunderstorms expected to pose a threat throughout the tournament, Thomas Tuchel's side may find themselves waiting hours for matches to resume if severe conditions strike host cities.
Tournament organisers are preparing contingency plans for weather disruption, but the Daily Mail says Fifa is reluctant to abandon fixtures entirely, even when delays become significant.
Instead, the governing body is expected to assess each incident individually and attempt to complete matches wherever possible.
That approach could create major headaches for players, supporters and broadcasters alike.
England's group-stage schedule includes late-afternoon kick-offs in Boston and New York, two venues where summer thunderstorms are a regular occurrence.
Should severe weather move into the area, matches could be halted for extended periods while officials wait for conditions to improve.
The Three Lions' opening fixture against Croatia is expected to avoid such concerns thanks to the closed-roof stadium in Dallas.
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