Until when can national team coaches name replacement players for Euro 2024?

Euro 2024 gets underway in Germany on Friday (14 June), although several national teams are sweating over the fitness of key players, most notably France with Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni.

How long do teams have to replace players? In what situation?

The 24 head coaches were asked to submit their final 26-man squads for the tournament by Friday 7 June, although some high-profile changes have already been made. On Wednesday, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann called up Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can as a replacement for Bayern Munich’s Alexander Pavlovic, while Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has pulled out for the Netherlands, with Ian Maatsen, on loan at Dortmund last season, taking his place.

UEFA rules state that players who are on the submitted squad list can be replaced before their country’s first game of the tournament if they have suffered an injury or an illness. Both their national team doctor and a doctor from the UEFA medical committee must verify that their condition is serious enough to prevent them from taking part in the tournament.

Goalkeepers are the exception to the rule. Teams must have a minimum of three on their roster and can replace an injured or ill goalkeeper even after their first match of the competition.

Germany and Netherlands’ injury blows, Mbappé's fitness concern

Germany’s Pavlovic was withdrawn from the squad after it was revealed he had contracted tonsillitis, while de Jong, who endured an injury-hit season in Catalonia, was ruled out after failing to fully recover from an ankle issue. Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman was critical of how Barça had managed the midfielder’s fitness issues.

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Attention now turns to France, who have question marks over the fitness of Mbappé and Tchouaméni.

The new Real Madrid signing is expected to be fit but could miss the start of the tournament, although Tchouaméni is a more serious doubt because of a foot problem. As France don’t play until Monday, coach Didier Deschamps has until Sunday to choose a replacement, if necessary, as per UEFA regulations.