Soccer-UEFA To Consider Concerns Over Euro 2024 Squad Size Achi-News

UEFA will listen to national team managers’ concerns about the size of the squad for the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, European football’s governing body said on Thursday.

A return to the pre-Covid-19 23-player limit was confirmed by UEFA, after it was increased to 26 for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, and coaches have voiced their concerns.

“We have taken note of the comments expressed by some of the national team coaches on the size of the squad for Euro 2024,” said a UEFA spokesperson.

“A workshop with the participating teams will be held on 8 April and on that occasion UEFA will listen to the opinions of the coaches. Any idea in this regard will then be considered and assessed.”

During the recent international window, England coach Gareth Southgate and Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman spoke about the issue.

“It’s very strange not to choose from 26 players. It’s absurd to go back to 23,” Koeman said after his side’s 2-1 loss to Germany on Tuesday.

“You have to deal more with injuries these days. It’s about the players being able to carry the load.”

Southgate has said he will name an extended starting squad, and is hopeful of overturning UEFA’s decision.

“It’s inevitable that we’re going to be naming a longer squad, which is what we did before the Euros here (in 2021) even though we’re dealing with 26 then,” Southgate said.

“There is one more UEFA meeting where there has been a little bit of talk among some of the coaches about possibly increasing that.”

The deadline for submitting squad lists to UEFA is June 7. The tournament starts on June 14.

The Asian Football Confederation increased the squad limit from 23 to 26 for the Asian Cup which started in January this year. The Africa Cup of Nations, which also started in January, had a squad limit of 27.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)