UEFA is allowing teams to name big squads at this year’s European Championships, with many coaches who are afraid of losing players to the Kovid-19 on Thursday, a spokesperson told AFP on Thursday. A spokesperson for the European football governing body told AFP, “UEFA is considering the issue. No decision has been made yet.” This option has been prompted through calls by many coaches, particularly those from Italy, Belgium and France, to prepare for teams taking on a large number of positive coronovirus tests that will allow players to be held during the tournament Is able to isolate.
Euro 2020 was postponed due to the epidemic last year but is scheduled to take place from 11 June to 11 July this year at locations across the continent.
Belgian coach Roberto Martinez allowed teams from UEFA to name squads of “26 or 27 players” this week.
National teams have named squads of 23 players in the World Cup and European Championship since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Earlier in the international tournament only 22 players were allowed in each team.
“Ideally we would be able to have extra goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards, so either the team has 26 or 27 players,” Martinez said as Belgium beat Belarus 8–0 in a World Cup qualifier.
UEFA has already decided that teams will be allowed to make five substitutions in games in the euro instead of the usual three, consistent with current rules in many club competitions.
France coach Didier Deschamps believes that being able to summon additional players will be another source of protection along with fatigue and also a major issue in a crumbling calendar.
“I think it would be nice if UEFA expanded the squad by two or three players, as long as all these could be put on the teamsheet,” Deschamps said in the international window.
“We had no positive case but I think fatigue and everything else would be a good thing.”
In contrast, England manager Gareth Southgate has said that he is against allowing squads to be made even bigger.
“I know there is some discussion in the team about an extended number,” Southgate said after beating Poland 2–1 on Wednesday.
“I’m not sure I’m behind it. I know Kovid can play a role but I think 23 has the skills to choose.
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“It means that you’ve got to make good decisions and important decisions and I think some of you might be lost because you get an extended group.”
The decision can be taken at the next meeting of the Executive Committee of the UEFA on 19 April, when any changes in the list of 12 host cities for the competition can also be announced.
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