Denmark turn to amateurs after contract row with regulars
Former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen managed a Denmark squad made up of five-a-side, third and fourth division players for a friendly against Slovakia this morning (Singapore time) after contract negotiations with first-team regulars reached deadlock.
The Danish Football Association (DBU) on Tuesday named a second-string squad to face Slovakia and potentially Wales in the country's first Nations League match the following Sunday to avoid expulsion from Euro 2020.
Regular first-team players, including playmaker Christian Eriksen and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, and the DBU have for months been in dispute over contract terms, mainly concerning the rights of players to make individual sponsorship agreements with companies competing with national team sponsors.
Regular coach Age Hareide is not in charge as the DBU does not want him to manage a team he did not pick himself.
Jensen, who famously scored in Denmark's 1992 European Championship final win over Germany, played for Arsenal from 1992 to 1996 and became a cult hero at the London club for his inability to find the net, with just one goal in 132 games.
Jensen, 53, and his amateur squad, including futsal players who feature in a version of five-a-side which is usually played indoors on a hard-court, flew to Slovakia on Tuesday.
"I had to start from scratch and ask each player his name and which position he plays," Jensen told a news conference when he arrived in Slovakia.
Most of the new squad are on amateur contracts with their local teams. Striker Anders Fonns, 30, sometimes works in a warehouse, while goalkeeper Larsen, 23, is a newspaper salesman.
Even Danish finance minister Kristian Jensen offered to join the squad.
"I report for duty in the nation's service as a tough right fullback," the minister wrote on Twitter.
Slovakia's FA (SFZ) reduced ticket prices for the game from up to 26 euros to 1 euro (S$42 to S$1.60). They urged European football's governing body Uefa to deal with the situation and take the appropriate action, SFZ said in a statement.
"What is the point of sending this team to meet us?" Slovakia coach Jan Kozak was quoted by Danish broadcaster DR as telling reporters.
"Does Denmark just want to avoid a fine? We could have spent our time better if we had known this before." - REUTERS
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