Gareth Southgate Concerned About FFP’s Impact on England’s Euro 2024 Aspirations
Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England national football team, has expressed his concerns about the impact of financial fair play (FFP) rules on England’s aspirations for Euro 2024. Southgate is worried that the extra money-spinning club friendlies, which are necessary for clubs to generate more revenue due to FFP, could result in player burnout and injuries.
Tottenham and Newcastle are scheduled to have an end-of-season tour to Australia before the tournament, and players like James Maddison, Kieran Trippier, and Anthony Gordon are expected to feature. However, Southgate is facing his worst injury crisis, with star striker Harry Kane likely to miss both the friendly against Brazil and the subsequent match against Belgium.
The concern is that if more Premier League teams go abroad in May for lucrative friendlies, there is a higher risk of players picking up injuries or suffering from fatigue. When asked about Tottenham and Newcastle’s controversial game in Melbourne on May 22, Southgate expressed his reservations. He stated, “It’s going to happen more and more. Why? Financial Fair Play means clubs need to generate money. We’re in a bizarre world where there’s more money in the game than ever before and yet everyone’s scrambling to generate more. The normal way of doing that is to play more games, so is that great news for us in terms of preparation? No.”
The injury crisis has hit England hard, with key players like Jordan Henderson and Bukayo Saka also ruled out. Southgate mentioned that out of the 40-odd players in the squad, almost a third are unavailable for the upcoming friendly matches, which is the highest number ever. In Kane’s absence, Kyle Walker is set to skipper the Three Lions, and either Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will be given a chance to lead the line.
Kane’s absence is significant, as he has missed just one international match in the last two and a half years. Despite his stellar record, Southgate and the England team will have to find a way to cope without their star striker and navigate their way through the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
In conclusion, Gareth Southgate’s concerns about the impact of financial fair play rules on England’s Euro 2024 aspirations are valid. The increasing number of money-spinning club friendlies, driven by the need to generate revenue, poses a risk of player burnout and injuries. The current injury crisis faced by Southgate and the absence of key players like Harry Kane highlight the challenges that lie ahead for the England national team. As they prepare for the upcoming matches against Brazil and Belgium, Southgate will have to find alternative solutions and ensure that his team remains competitive in their pursuit of success in Euro 2024.