‘I won’t gamble on fitness’

Gareth Southgate delivers a stern warning to his England players ahead of Euro 2024 next summer, emphasizing the crucial importance of fitness in his selection process.

With the squad size reduced from 26 to 23 for the tournament in Germany, Southgate expresses his reluctance to wait on players’ recoveries mid-tournament, citing James Maddison’s experience at the previous World Cup.

Furthermore, he highlights the need for versatile players who can cover multiple positions, as the squads return to their usual size following expansions for previous tournaments due to Covid-19 protocols.

Southgate emphasizes the historical gambles on injury recoveries by England and asserts that there’s a limit to the risks he can take, contrasting it with the expanded squad flexibility seen in previous tournaments.

“We can take far fewer gambles than we were able to take for the last two tournaments where it was 26,” said Southgate. “The size of the squad makes it a different sort of thought process because you’ve had that leeway in the last couple of tournaments to take players that weren’t going to be fit for the first couple of games. Or a bit of cover in certain positions that you might or might not have needed.

“This time the physical conditioning of players is going to be really important. The ability for players to bat out six, seven games. We know, having been to the end of two tournaments, that physically the demands on that is far greater than we would have known had we not been through that experience.

Southgate is keen on utility players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, recognizing the importance of adaptable players who can fill multiple positions. He also emphasizes the critical need for players like Bukayo Saka, highlighting the value of players who resist injury despite facing multiple knocks.

Notably, Marcus Rashford’s fitness has been a subject of concern after experiencing challenges at the club level. Southgate, however, assures that there are no concerns at the international level, emphasizing Rashford’s track record of achievements with the national team.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.