Denmark Are Playing A Team Of Unknowns For Slovakia Clash

The Danish national team will field a team made up of lower-league and futsal players for their game against Slovakia tomorrow, following a dispute between players and the Danish Football Association (DBU) over image rights.

With talks over new contracts within the national team set-up stalling because of commercial and branding reasons, Denmark's squad, which includes household names like Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel, have threatened to not play their friendly fixture.

It's also expected that manager Age Hareide and assistant Jon Dahl Tomasson will not be taking charge for the upcoming games, with Euro 92 winner John Jensen filling in.

But failure to fulfil the game would mean the ninth-best ranked international side would be banned from playing at Euro 2020 irrespective of whether they qualified or not.

As a result, the DBU have been forced to call up players who haven't played for their country, leaving them with those who play in the third and fourth tiers - as well as a few who have played indoor at five-a-side at national level.

As per Danish outlet BT, the second division's top scorer, Christian Offenberg has been called up, as has his Avarta teammate Morten Bank.

Football Freestyler 'Brizze', who plays futsal for Denmark, was rumoured to be in the mix but he told us he turned down the opportunity.

Denmark play Slovakia away, while they could also be forced to play with a team of unknowns for their home UEFA Nations League game against Ryan Giggs' Wales on Sunday if things aren't resolved.

Image: PA

Eriksen, Denmark's main man, has called for the whole situation be ironed out as soon as possible.

"We have to solve this conflict now, not just digging the ditches deeper," he stressed in a statement on the official Danish Player Association website.

"So we're happy to stretch our hand again, even though DBU put it away in the first try.

"Let's renew the old deal by one month. Then we have organised relationships right now and we are prepared to play the international matches this week.

"And then we have time after the two international matches to negotiate the entire agreement in place. It does not make sense if DBU does not accept that offer."

Topics: Football News, Football, International Football, Denmark, Wales

Josh Lawless

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