Gareth Southgate faces a dilemma when it comes to selecting his Euro 2024 group at the end of the current season - with the England manager able to name fewer players in his squad compared to the previous tournament.
The Three Lions have fared well in their previous three tournaments under Southgate. A World Cup semi-final in 2018, the Euros final in 2020 and a defeat by the finest of margins to France in Qatar's quarter-final stage back in December means that England are well and truly considered one of the top teams in this summer's tournament.
A 3-1 win over Italy on Tuesday showed what Southgate and his side can do when facing a high-reputation team, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden shining against the Azzurri at Wembley But for those who aren't sure of a space in the squad, the going will be even tougher - with the limit being cut by three players.
As a result of Covid-19, countries were allowed to take 26 players to major tournaments such as Euro 2020 and World Cup 2022 due to the ongoing fallout from the virus, which saw squads somewhat ravaged and given that the tournament was mid-season, which helped with fatigue. But Southgate, France manager Didier Deschamps and the rest of the continental bosses will face a selection headache when it comes to selecting their squads as UEFA rules have made it so that only 23 players will be selected now, as per the old rules before the outbreak.
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Some tough calls were made last time out - players from London clubs such as Ben White, James Ward-Prowse and Raheem Sterling were all absent from the previous squads when their league form would suggest that they’d all be good enough to play a part.
Add to the injures of Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka and the gambling suspension of Ivan Toney - and Southgate has a real dilemma on his hands when it comes to selecting a squad that will keep all players happy when June swings around.
