UEFA Approves Expanded Squads for Euro 2024
UEFA has voted in favor of allowing teams to select 26 players for this summer’s European Championships, expanding the squad limit from 23. This decision was made during a UEFA national competitions committee meeting on Monday and is expected to be ratified remotely by the UEFA executive committee later this week.
The expansion of squads was initially suggested at a meeting of all nations’ coaches two weeks ago in Dusseldorf. It was implemented as a measure to help nations cope with the aftermath of the COVID pandemic during the 2021 Euros and will now become the norm for all future UEFA national competitions.
The decision is a welcome boost for Gareth Southgate and Steve Clarke, with both England and Scotland badly affected by injuries. With the start of the Euros less than eight weeks away, the expanded squads will provide them with more flexibility in selecting their teams.
Impact on Scotland’s Squad Selection
Scotland has been particularly affected by injuries in recent weeks, with midfielder Lewis Ferguson undergoing surgery, Stuart Armstrong’s season ending due to injury, and right-backs Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey remaining doubtful. This has left Clarke with several difficult decisions to make as he prepares his squad for the tournament.
Clarke has indicated that the “core squad” from Scotland’s successful qualification campaign “deserve the chance to go to the Euros,” meaning he will have some tough choices to make over the coming weeks. With just two more warm-up games remaining before their tournament opener against Germany, Clarke will need to carefully assess his options and select a squad that is both competitive and resilient.
