England are set to begin their Euro 2024 campaign at a major disadvantage this summer.
Gareth Southgate‘s side head to Germany hoping to secure the Three Lions’ first major trophy since 1966 after facing significant heartache in recent years.
Having being knocked out in the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup, England were runners-up at Euro 2020 before they crashed out at the quarter-final stage to France at the World Cup in 2022.
England boast a star-studded squad this time around and are the bookies’ favourites to lift the trophy in Germany.
However, according to Kitman Labs, as per The Mirror, the Three Lions face the disadvantage of their squad having played more cumulative minutes than any other team at the tournament over the course of the season.
England are set to begin their Euro 2024 campaign at a major disadvantage this summer
Gareth Southgate’s squad have played more overall minutes this season than any other team
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For example, Phil Foden enjoyed a stunning campaign with Man City, but he racked up 61 games for club and country.
Elsewhere, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka played 58 and 51 times respectively for Arsenal and England as the Gunners ended the season trophyless.
Meanwhile, perhaps the impact of a long season has already been evidenced by Anthony Gordon’s absence from training this weekend.
The Newcastle star played 48 times for the Magpies and remained one of their players who stayed fit amid an injury crisis elsewhere.
However, he missed the final game of the campaign with an ankle injury and isn’t expected to be available for England’s warm-up clash against Bosnia at his St James’ Park home on Monday.
England’s tournament hopes will be boosted by the support of Kitman Labs, a leading sports science and performance intelligence company that are set to work with them in Germany.
And, speaking on the impact of a busy season on the squad, Stephen Smith, founder and CEO of Kitman Labs, told The Mirror: ‘The average number of minutes played by the players in England’s squad is the highest of any team who will be at the Euros.
‘The best teams will all have two or three key players who will have played more games and minutes for their clubs during the season – and it is hugely important to keep them fit and performing at their optimum level when the gap between games is so restricted over an intense five-week period.
‘When you put athletes through a number of really tough physical exposures in a short space of time, that clearly puts them under greater risk of injury.
Man City’s Phil Foden enjoyed a superb season, but racked up 61 games for club and country
The amount of minutes England’s squad have played could impact their chances in Germany
‘It also limits the amount of time that coaches have to work with players on the training pitch.
‘It means the ability to access the information you need to protect your athletes can often be the difference between winning and losing. That’s the role we can play.’
After Monday’s warm-up game with Bosnia, England face Iceland in a final pre-tournament friendly on Friday.
Out in Germany, Southgate’s side will then come up against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia in the group stage.
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