National teams will be allowed 26-man squads at Euro 2024, giving opportunities to some fringe players to be involved at the event.
Sky Sports News report that UEFA have confirmed 26-man squads will be allowed at Euro 2024, with a deadline of June 7th for teams to submit a minimum of 23 players.
England were among the countries campaigning for the squad size to be increased from 23 to 26, and they’ve got their way, allowing Gareth Southgate to include a few extra players in his shortlist for the tournament.
Let’s have a look at which Arsenal players might be called up for the tournament, and whether any of them might be helped by the increased squad size.
Group A
- Germany
- Scotland
- Hungary
- Switzerland
Kai Havertz is likely to be a starter for Germany, whilst on-loan Kieran Tierney will have ended his spell with Real Sociedad and will almost certainly start for Scotland as long as he’s fit.
Tierney is currently injured, but expected to be back in action before the end of the club campaign.
Group B
- Spain
- Croatia
- Italy
- Albania
David Raya should receive a Spain call-up, though he’s unlikely to play ahead of Unai Simon. Jorginho should be involved and starting for Italy.
Group C
- Slovenia
- Denmark
- Serbia
- England
Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice should all be with England at the tournament, with Saka and Rice likely starters.
Eddie Nketiah, Ben White, Emile Smith Rowe, and Reiss Nelson are all eligible, but it would be a surprise to see any of them involved, even with the expanded squads.
Arsenal loan striker Mika Biereth is technically eligible for Denmark and in excellent form, but he’s yet to make his senior international debut and this is an unlikely time for him to get it.
Group D
- Netherlands
- France
- Poland
- Austria
William Saliba should be involved with France, and Jakub Kiwior with Poland.
Jurrien Timber might be involved with the Netherlands if he’s fit, but with no senior games under his belt at this point, it’s not looking hugely likely.
Yet perhaps he might now be a beneficiary of the extra squad spaces, as his inclusion would no longer mean having to take another player out.
Group E
- Ukraine
- Slovakia
- Belgium
- Romania
Oleksandr Zinchenko will probably be a starter for Ukraine, and Leandro Trossard is likely to start for Belgium. Both will certainly be on the plane.
Albert Sambi Lokonga is also eligible for Belgium, but his recent injuries and the fact he hasn’t been involved with the national team for a while make it unlikely he’ll get a call-up.
Group F
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Georgia
- Turkey
Arsenal technically have three players eligible for Portugal: Cedric Soares, Nuno Tavares, and Fabio Vieira.
It seems unlikely any of them will be involved, with Cedric barely playing and both Tavares and Vieira dealing with recent injuries.
Overall Prediction
Havertz, Tierney, Raya, Jorginho, Ramsdale, Saka, Rice, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko, and Trossard will almost certainly go to Euro 2024.
Timber, Nketiah, White, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Biereth, Lokonga, Cedric, Tavares, and Vieira are also eligible, but less likely to be involved.
Arsenal will most likely send around 11 players to the tournament, but it could be one or two more or less depending on how the injury situation develops.