The debate over squad size for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany has taken center stage once again. With the recent increase to 26-man squads at Euro 2020 and FIFA’s 2022 World Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, national team coaches are pushing for the larger squads to become a permanent fixture.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was one of the first to speak out, highlighting the rising number of injuries in modern football as a reason to maintain the 26-man squad size. He emphasized the importance of considering the load-carrying ability of players in today’s game, where the risk of injuries is higher than ever.
On the other hand, England coach Gareth Southgate has taken a more cautious approach. While he acknowledges the benefits of having a larger squad, including reducing the risk of playing injured players, Southgate has not actively lobbied UEFA for an increase. He believes that with proper management, a 23-man squad is still viable.
UEFA has announced that it will hold a workshop with the participating teams to discuss the squad size issue. The European football body has stated that they are open to considering the views of the coaches and will carefully assess any proposed changes to the squad size for Euro 2024.
One of the main dilemmas facing the coaches is whether a larger squad will lead to more players sitting on the bench without getting game time. With Euro 2024 slated to take place from June 14 to July 14 across 10 German cities, coaches must carefully weigh the pros and cons of having a larger pool of players to select from.
The debate over squad size for UEFA Euro 2024 shows no signs of slowing down. As national team coaches voice their opinions and UEFA considers potential changes, the footballing world eagerly awaits the final decision on whether squads will be expanded to 26 players for the upcoming tournament in Germany.
Leave a Reply