Southgate backs formation of 26-man squad at Euro 2024

Gareth Southgate has hinted that he will back the 26-man squad at the European Championship in Germany this summer, and revealed that the issue will be debated next month at the UEFA managers' meeting.

If you watch football , you know Southgate's plans during his international stint have been upended by injury and there is a growing sense that the physical demands on players mean bigger squads will be needed for the tournament.

Uefa agreed to increase its number from 23 to 26 at Euro 2020, which was affected by the pandemic, and competed in the summer of 2021. FIFA has extended the measure to the 2022 Winter World Cup in Qatar but Uefa is expected to return to 23 this summer.

After selecting an initial squad of 25 for friendlies in Wembley against Brazil and Belgium, the England coach brought Bukayo Saka and then Harry Kane back to their clubs for treatment without playing. Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire were injured against Brazil, John Stones against Belgium, while Sam Johnstone missed training. Jordan Henderson and Cole Palmer had fitness issues and were unable to play.

Southgate said: "There is one more UEFA meeting where there have been some small discussions between some managers about the possibility of increasing the size of the squad from 23 to 26. "

He's dealt with a myriad of other injury issues, most worryingly Luke Shaw's tendon injury that kept him out in the finals.

Southgate will announce his provisional squad on May 21, two days after the Premier League season ends. But he could have players in the Europa League final on May 22, the FA Cup final on May 25, the Europa Conference League final on May 29 and the Champions League final on June 1.

He played warm-ups against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park on 3 June and Iceland at Wembley on 7 June, with live football available at Xoilac TV. Southgate had to send his final squad to Uefa at midnight CET that night, just an hour after the match against Iceland ended.

Southgate said it would be really difficult to pinpoint the identity of the players he wants in his final group when naming the team. "It will depend on the location of some injuries as well as the number of players attending European finals," he said. "My preference has always been for players to understand their role when they join. Maybe I'll try to at least manage expectations at that stage."

Southgate watched 18-year-old midfield prodigy Kobbie Mainoo assert himself with a brilliant performance on his full debut in the 2-2 draw against Belgium, coming on as a substitute on his debut in the 1-0 defeat to Brazil.

Mainoo caught the eye alongside Declan Rice in Southgate's 4-2-3-1 formation. But when the manager spoke about the teenager's profile, he sought to manage expectations by pointing out that the midfield with Mainoo defensively was less solid and more vulnerable to conversion.

Southgate said: "There's bravery from Mainoo when crossing in and technical ability when receiving, finding passes, handling the ball in tight areas. Obviously we're a little more open with him. But it gives us information about players that we don't have yet. That's super exciting."

One player who will not participate in the 2024 European finals is Ben White, who continues to be absent after coming home early from the Qatar World Cup. Rice said he thought his Arsenal team-mate spoke to Southgate after the Brazil and Belgium team announcements to discuss the situation. But Southgate said it was not: "That will be for Ben. The door is open, although it is obviously difficult ahead of the Euros, where he has missed all the qualifying campaigns and Rice is a player who has played all the way so will not be absent."

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