The suspense will end in a week. According to consistent sources, UEFA must, in principle, announce on Tuesday April 23 the number of players available to the 24 countries qualified for Euro 2024 (June 14 – July 14). At this stage, no hypothesis can be excluded. “I don’t think we will go to 26. A status quo at 23 is possible or even a move to 24 or 25. But it is still being considered,” we are told within the Swiss body.
On April 8 in Düsseldorf, most of the coaches took part in the usual workshops before major tournaments. Didier Deschamps and part of his staff were present. The different protagonists were able to express themselves on this subject. UEFA was then attentive to the arguments of each side.
Julian Nagelsmann, the Mannschaft technician, publicly campaigned for maintaining the number of players at 23. Others suggested replacing a player injured during the competition and no longer 24 hours before the first match. For the record, this request for an expanded list was made by several selectors to UEFA (the Dutchman Ronald Koeman and the Englishman Gareth Southgate in particular).
At Euro 2021, the technicians had already been able to call on 26 players due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This was also the case during the last 2022 World Cup for similar health reasons and in view of the unusual period during the season. Unlike the Euro, where only 23 names appeared on the match sheet, in Qatar, all the players could appear. Deschamps, more in favor of a list of 23, wants if the extension is validated, to see this rule renewed.
Deschamps will give his list on May 16
For the record, he had retained 26 elements in Doha (25 initially, plus Marcus Thuram a few days later). But with the injuries to Karim Benzema before the competition, then to Lucas Hernandez during the first match against Australia, the Blues finished the World Cup at 24. As announced by Le Parisien and confirmed this Tuesday by the FFF, Didier Deschamps will communicate its list on May 16 at 8 p.m. on TF1.
The prospect of an expanded list would offer an additional chance to certain French internationals. We are thinking in particular of Disasi or Todibo among the defenders, Guendouzi in midfield, Diaby, Barcola or Nkunku, if he is restored, in attack. There remains the specific case of Kingsley Coman. Injured this Saturday in the right adductor, he is unavailable for around six weeks.
Its participation in the Euro therefore seems compromised. Except to consider, within the framework of an expanded list, a favorable evolution of his recovery and the real prospects of recovery between now and the start of the competition. The Blues staff have often been reluctant to call up a convalescing player for a final phase.
Benzema and Varane, both affected before the World Cup in Qatar, had nevertheless boarded the plane. If the second had taken part in the adventure interrupted only in the final, the 2022 Ballon d’or had left the group after a left thigh problem contracted in training three days before France’s first match in tournament.
The deadline for sending the final list to the European body has been set for June 7. One week before the start of the competition with the opening match between Germany and Scotland.
