Featured Image Credit: Getty/Sky Sports
Topics: Gareth Southgate, England, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Gareth Southgate is hoping for a major rule change at Euro 2024, revealing that there has been 'talk among the coaches' about it.
Southgate is set to announce a 23-man 'training squad' for Euro 2024 on May 21, with up to four reserve players to accommodate potential injuries from the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
However, there are serious considerations to change the rules ahead of the competition kicking off in Germany on June 14.
It's claimed that UEFA are considering increasing the squad sizes to 26 players, which was in place for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate was dealt with a series of injury blows to his squad, with the likes of Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Bukayo Saka withdrawing from the party.
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The slate of injuries is expected to intensify ahead of the business end of the season so an extended squad could be necessary.
It could prove beneficial as the England boss has a few selection dilemmas on his hand, with fans convinced two players have booked their spots for Euro 2024.
Southgate said: "We've got to make the best decisions with what we know and some of those currently are going to be medical decisions.
"It's going to be really hard to be really definitive on a 23. There is one more UEFA meeting where there's been a little bit of talk amongst some of the coaches about possibly increasing that."
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Asked if he'd support the idea of increasing the squad sizes, the 53-year-old replied: "Well, given where we are now!
"It's really going to depend on where some of the injuries are and also how many players are in the European finals. But one or two have come through big tests really, really strongly, I think."
UEFA have scheduled a meeting on April 8 and 9 for all the finalist teams, with Southgate likely to voice his support for larger squads at Euro 2024.