Euros coaches push for 26-man squads

GARETH SOUTHGATE has revealed coaches are trying to convince UEFA to let them pick 26-man squads next month for Euro 2024, amid concern about player welfare. If successful, the move would hand a number of players on the periphery of England’s squad a lifeline. In the delayed Euro 2020, squad size was increased to 26 from 23 as a safety buffer amid Covid restrictions. Bosses were also allowed to pick 26 players at World Cup 2022 in Qatar. However, it has looked increasingly likely that UEFA would revert to the original 23-man rule for this summer. Asked if the chances of picking more than 23 players had disappeared, Southgate admitted: ‘It seems to be. There is one more UEFA meeting (in a fortnight) where there’s been a little bit of talk among some of the coaches about possibly increasing that.’ One potential beneficiary of an increased squad size could be James Maddison, who has begged Southgate for the chance to prove his worth. ‘There is big competition, a lot of quality in the squad,’ began Maddison, who came from the bench to set up Bellingham’s 95th-minute equaliser against Belgium. ‘You have to make sure when you are called upon, you do the business. I don’t lack the confidence and belief in myself to do that. I just want that opportunity, I want that time on the pitch, because I know what I’m capable of.’ Maddison bristled at the suggestion that he, Bellingham and Foden are too similar to be on the pitch at the same time, the inference being they were all No 10s. ‘Well, what does No 10 mean?’ he hit back. ‘Jude went a bit deeper, Phil is very strong off the left and the right and can drift. It’s not like we’re all stood in a line in the middle!’

THE POSSIBLE 23: Goalkeepers – Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope. Defenders – Walker, Trippier, Shaw, Stones, Maguire, Guehi, Gomez. Midfielders – Rice, Bellingham, Mainoo, Alexander-Arnold, Maddison, Gallagher. Forwards – Kane, Saka, Foden, Rashford, Gordon, Toney, Bowen. Three extra – Watkins, Colwill, Palmer.