Manager Gareth Southgate cautioned England players aiming to participate in next year's European Championship in Germany that they must ensure their fitness meets the required standards. UEFA has reduced the permissible squad size to 23 players.

Squad sizes were expanded from 23 to 26 in the previous edition of the Euros to address the potential risks of teams facing player shortages in certain matches due to COVID-19 cases and quarantine measures, as reported by Reuters.

During the 2021 Euros, Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson were included in the England squad while still recovering from injuries. Similarly, at last year's World Cup, Kyle Walker, James Maddison, and Kalvin Phillips were selected despite grappling with similar fitness issues.