UEFA set to confirm 26-man squad size for Euros

UEFA are set to confirm 26-man squads for Euro 2024 following a meeting between the governing body's national competitions committee.

Competing nations at this summer's Euros were originally meant to select 23-man squads, reduced from 26 from the Qatar World Cup two years ago, but these plans look set to change following discussions amongst national bodies.

This news could make life a bit easier for England manager Gareth Southgate as he prepares to select his final squad for the Euros in Germany, with the UEFA deadline on Friday 7th June - seven days before the tournament gets underway.

We take a look at which English players could be set to benefit from this increased squad size this summer...

Marcus Rashford

To be in Finals Squad odds - 8/15

Enduring a difficult season with Manchester United to say the least - scoring just seven Premier League goals this term to date - there's an argument that Marcus Rashford's club form is not befitting international recognition at present.

With an abundance of attacking talent at England manager Gareth Southgate's disposal, Rashford's place in the Three Lions squad has been called into question amidst stiff competition for places.

This increase in squad size to 26 players should ensure that England regular Rashford retains his place in the international squad ahead of the Euros.

Jack Grealish

To be in Finals Squad odds - 8/11

Another big-name player to have struggled at club level this season - scoring just three league goals for Manchester City - Jack Grealish was another England international whose place in the Three Lions squad had come under severe threat.

Playing in a position on the pitch in which England are blessed with so much quality, Grealish may just have had a fight on his hands to make sure he was part of a 23-man travelling party to the Euros.

Like Rashford, Grealish's blushes may well have been spared by UEFA's imminent decision to return to 26-man squads ahead of this summer's tournament in Germany.

Jarrod Bowen

To be in Finals Squad odds - 10/11

Unlike Rashford and Grealish, Jarrod Bowen has enjoyed an outstanding domestic season this term - scoring 19 goals in all competitions for West Ham.

However, Bowen has not always been as assured of an England place as counterparts Rashford and Grealish have in recent years, with the ex-Hull City forward omitted from Gareth Southgate's Qatar World Cup squad two years ago.

Capped only seven times by his country, Bowen is by no means an established member of the England camp and this increase in international squad sizes ahead of the Euros is likely to be music to the ears of the Hammers hero.

Anthony Gordon

To be in Finals Squad odds - 1/1

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon is another Englishman to have had a brilliant campaign in the Premier League, registering 10 goals and eight assists in England's top flight.

Despite his impressive form for his club, 23-year-old Gordon remains very much on the fringes of the England squad having only made his international debut in the Three Lions' recent friendly against Brazil at Wembley in March.

The additional three spots afforded to England manager Southgate ahead of the Euros may therefore aid Gordon's chances of being selected considerably.

Levi Colwill

To be in Finals Squad - 7/4

A member of the England Under 21s side which won the Euros without conceding a single goal in Romania and Georgia last summer, Chelsea defender Levil Colwill has made 32 first team appearances in all competitions for the Blues this season.

21-year-old Colwill has shown promise in an inconsistent Chelsea side, with his left-footedness and ability to play either at centre-back or left-back likely to appeal to England manager Southgate.

Although currently sidelined by injury and having received just one senior international cap to date, Colwill could just find his way on the plane to Germany thanks to an increase in squad size from 23 to 26.

Rico Lewis

To be in Finals Squad odds - 11/4

One of the most talented homegrown players to come out of Manchester City's academy in recent years, with Pep Guardiola clearly a huge fan, Rico Lewis is expected to have a big future for England.

Making his England debut in a Euros Qualifier against North Macedonia in November 2023, Lewis is another player whose versatility would make him a major asset as part of a travelling squad for a major international tournament.

Capable of playing in both full-back positions or as a deep-lying midfielder, Lewis has shone in recent outings for Premier League title chasers Man City and could be set to be one of the major beneficiaries of an increase in squad sizes for Euro 2024.

Eberechi Eze

To be in Finals Squad odds - 3/1

Recently recovering from a muscle injury which saw him miss just over a month of action, Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze has returned to fitness with a bang in the Premier League under new Eagles boss Oliver Glasner.

Scoring two goals and contributing one assist in his last two Premier League matches, Eze could make himself impossible to ignore in the international reckoning should he continue to dazzle from now until the end of the season.

A supremely talented player who could add something a bit different to the England squad, Eze could be a wildcard option Southgate has room to select given the extra places now at his disposal.