GARETH SOUTHGATE could be allowed to select an extra THREE players at Euro2024.
The England boss has revealed that the squads for Germany could be increased to 26 stars from the planned 23.
All 24 national bosses competing at Euro2024 will be at a Uefa workshop in Dusseldorf on April 8 and 9.
Top of the agenda is the potential increase in squads due to the huge number of players suffering injuries across Europe.
Southgate lost Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Sam Johnstone to injuries during the international window which saw England suffer a 1-0 defeat to Brazil and then draw 2-2 with Belgium.
A bigger squad could be a huge boost for the likes of Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins and James Maddison who are all on the fringes while teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo looks certain to make the squad.
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Southgate said: “There is one more Uefa meeting where there’s been a little bit of talk amongst some of the coaches about possibly increasing the number.”
Asked if he would favour a 26-man squad, Southgate smiled and said: “Well, given where we are now. ..
“We’ve got to make the best decisions with what we know and some of those currently are going to be medical decisions.
“And we’ve been able to get those right in the previous tournaments. We’ve been able to give people time, but with 23 that’s definitely more difficult.”
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Normally, major tournaments feature 23 players but due to Covid, Euro2020 and the World Cup in 2022 featured squads of 26 although Uefa decided to reduce the number for this summer’s tournament.
However, even if all the managers wanted to increase the squads, they would still have to persuade Uefa to deliver the u-turn.
Southgate, who has previously claimed he preferred squads of 23 for major finals, is set to name a ‘training’ squad of up to 30 players on May 21.
Although players will be given a one-week break after the Premier League season ends on May 19, some stars will be involved in European finals.
The Champions League final at Wembley is on June 1.
England face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Newcastle on June 3 and then play Iceland in the final warm-up game at Wembley on June 7.
On June 8, the FA must confirm the official squad and the first Euro clash against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen is on June 16.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
