Wales will not face Denmark’s makeshift group of futsal and lower league players after a temporary deal was struck between the Danish football association and their player’s body.
The players, including Christian Eriksen and Kasper Schmeichel, were at loggerheads with the football hierarchy over commercial and image rights as talks stalled over a fresh agreement. That led to a side made up of players from the Danish third, fourth and fifth tiers, as well as futsal players, being thrown together for the friendly with Slovakia on Wednesday night.
Managed by former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen, they returned home as heroes after putting up stubborn resistance in a 3-0 defeat but the hope among all concerned was that stars like Eriksen and Schmeichel would return for the Nations League encounter with Ryan Giggs’s side on Sunday.
“It is good for the national team and for everyone in Danish football that we can play the important Nations League match with the right national team and again focus on the sporting,” said Jesper Møller, the DBU president.
Negotiations have begun on a fresh agreement which both parties hope to have completed before Denmark face the Republic of Ireland next month.
