Sergio Gomez tears into Man City team-mate Cole Palmer for failing to apologise for passionate celebrations after his free kick put England U21s ahead against Spain as he slams rivals’ attitude in Euro final
Manchester City‘s Sergio Gomez has slammed his team-mate Cole Palmer for his passionate celebrations during England’s 1-0 win against Spain in Saturday’s U21 European Championship final.
The Young Lions wheeled away in delirium, after Palmer’s free-kick collided with Curtis Jones, who was stood in front of a wall of Spanish players and bizarrly deflected the ball into the back of the goal just before half-time.
James Trafford would go on to save a penalty and the resulting rebound in the dying embers of the match, with Carsley’s side holding out to end a 39-year wait to win the title, having also outstandingly not conceded a goal at the tournament.
But there were some unsavoury scenes after the opener and the penalty save, with tempers flaring between both sets of players, while several members of the backroom staff entered the pitch to confront their opposition.
The brawls were ignited after Spain seemed to become incensed over England’s celebrations, with Gomez blasting his club team-mate for not coming to apologise after the match.
Sergio Gomes (pictured) has slammed his Manchester City team-mate Cole Palmer following Spain’s 1-0 defeat in the Euro U21 Championship on Saturday night
Palmer (pictured) played a pivotal part in the lone goal of the game, and wheeled away to celebrate, much to the distaste of the Spanish players
After going a goal up, England held out against the second-half advances from Spain, and tempers boiled over at full-time too
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Gomez was asked by Spanish radio station Cadena SER what he thought about Palmer’s celebrations following the goal, and admitted: ‘It surprised me.
‘He didn’t want to apologise or anything like some of his other teammates.
‘I don’t know, I would have celebrated it in a different way and my teammates would have done it in a different way as well.
Gomez, who was the tournament’s joint-top scorer with three goals, gave a scathing assessment of England, claiming that this is not the first time that they had shown a lack of respect for their opposition.
‘They [England] have the attitude they want to have. This is not the first time something like this has happened with this team.
‘We have tried to represent our country in the best possible way and have the utmost respect for all our rivals.
‘They wanted to celebrate it like this and also after the missed penalty.’
England coach Ashley Cole was notably sent off before half-time amid the chaos that ensued following Jones’ opener.
Gomez (right) said his side would not have celebrated the goal or the penalty save in the same way
The City midfielder also said this wasn’t the first time something similar has happened with England
There was certainly an edge to this close encounter, with the referee dishing out 12 yellow cards during the game.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Spain’s Antonio Blanco were also both also shown second yellow cards and sent down the tunnel with tempers flaring after Trafford saved Abel Ruiz’s last-gasp penalty.
Speaking on the win, Palmer told Channel 4: ‘[It] means a lot. Obviously we’ve been working hard over the past few years for this moment and it’s come so we’re buzzing.
‘I don’t even know to be honest. When I went down and got the free-kick, I was just thinking “score”. Obviously it was very lucky but you create your own luck don’t you.’
On his celebrations, the City youngster admitted they might have been a bit too much, but was just happy to get the win.
‘I was a bit frustrated because the game, well, the way they were going down and screaming and stuff. So obviously when I scored, I just, the celebration might have been a bit over-the-top, but I’m just happy.’
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