Good news for Euro 2024 teams as UEFA open to increasing squads amid complaints from England boss Gareth Southgate and Netherlands' Ronald Koeman

During previous major tournaments, such as Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, UEFA and FIFA allowed for expanded 26-man squads due to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. This measure ensured that replacements were readily available in the event of players being isolated for health reasons.

Despite UEFA's decision last year to opt for 23-player squads for Euro 2024, the organisation remains open to reconsidering this stance based on feedback from coaches. UEFA plans to host a workshop with coaches and officials from all 24 participating teams in Dusseldorf, Germany, where they will listen to coaches' views on squad sizes.

"A workshop with the participating teams will be held on April 8 and on that occasion, UEFA will listen to the views of the coaches," the governing body said. "Any idea in this respect will then be considered and assessed."

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman happens to be a strong advocate for a 26-man squad due to the ever-increasing number of injuries in modern football and the need to adapt to current challenges.

"It is about the load carrying ability of the players," Koeman told reporters after the 2-1 loss to Germany on Tuesday.

England's Gareth Southgate has also acknowledged discussions among their counterparts regarding the potential benefits of larger squads.

"We've been able to give people time. But with 23 that's definitely more difficult," said Southgate.

However, Southgate admitted that he would not implore UEFA to make the rule change.

While the exact number of coaches in favour of larger squads remains uncertain, UEFA's receptiveness to considering an increase reflects a commitment to addressing the evolving needs of the sport. The quadrennial event is set to kick off on June 14 with the title decider set to be held a month later on July 14.