"UEFA Approves Expansion of Euro 2024 Squads to 26 Players, Offering Gareth Southgate Relief as England Manager Navigates Concerns Over Fitness of Key Players"

According to sources at Mail Sport, European Championship squads for the 2024 tournament are poised to expand to 26 players.

Scheduled in Germany this summer, the Euros will feature 24 teams competing for the coveted title of Europe's best team, currently held by Italy.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the previous competition saw nations fielding expanded squads for the first time, deviating from the usual 23-player limit.

Initially expected to revert to the standard limit this year, a recent vote during a UEFA national competitions committee meeting on Monday has signaled approval for 26-player squads.

While the vote isn't a definitive change, as UEFA's executive committee must officially sanction any alterations, it hints at the possibility of 26-player squads becoming a regular feature in future tournaments.

The proposal was first discussed two weeks ago at a meeting of national team managers in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The UEFA executive committee is set to convene on May 22, though the decision could potentially be ratified remotely, potentially even later this week. This could provide managers like Gareth Southgate and Steve Clarke with more time to finalize their squads, particularly as injuries have plagued their teams in recent weeks.

England faces concerns over the fitness of players such as Reece James, Luke Shaw, Nick Pope, and Kieran Trippier, with the possibility of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham's seasons being extended if they reach the Champions League final.

Similarly, Scotland has injury worries surrounding players like Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey, while Stuart Armstrong and Lewis Ferguson have been ruled out for the season.

The news of expanded squads could offer opportunities for players on the fringes of Southgate's plans, like Ollie Watkins, Cole Palmer, Jarrod Bowen, and Anthony Gordon, to secure spots in the final squad.

There's a tentative plan for Southgate to announce an extended squad of around 30 players towards the end of May ahead of the tournament training camp at St George's Park.