Good for Alaba

Will UEFA increase the European Championship squad to 26 men?

The ÖFB team is ready for the EURO!(Bild: GEPA pictures)

UEFA wants to examine the possibility of larger squads at the European Football Championship. Europe's continental association did not rule out an increase from 23 to 26 players per team on Monday and announced an imminent decision on the important personnel issue for the tournament from June 14 to July 14 in Germany.

"The positive discussions expressed different points of view among the coaches. (...) UEFA has taken note of the different opinions and points of view and will make a final decision in the coming weeks," it said in a statement after the team workshop of the 24 European Championship participants in Düsseldorf.

Germany's national coach Julian Nagelsmann suggested a flexible solution as a compromise. "You can name a maximum number of 26 and everyone can decide whether to take fewer," said Nagelsmann. He himself is in favor of a smaller squad so as not to have too many unhappy players. Austria team manager Ralf Rangnick can also imagine such a flexible arrangement.

Dutch Bonds coach Ronald Koeman initiated the discussion after the 2-1 defeat against Germany at the end of March and spoke out in favor of a squad size of 26 instead of the 23 players previously stipulated in the tournament rules. At the 2021 European Championship, the squad was expanded to 26 players due to the coronavirus pandemic, while at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the heavy workload in the middle of the season was the argument for more tournament players.