Ryan Giggs unsure of the Denmark side that will face Wales
The Danes are set to field a scratch team consisting of unknown players in Aarhus on Sunday.
Ryan Giggs is preparing for Wales to enter the unknown against a Denmark side consisting of lower-league and futsal players.
Denmark’s preparations for their UEFA Nations League opener against Wales in Aarhus on Sunday are in chaos following a dispute between the Danish Football Association and their Players’ Association.
The Danes are set to field an uncapped scratch side consisting of third-tier and futsal players, the latter being an indoor five-a-side game played with a harder and smaller ball.
“What sort of team we’re going to face I don’t know,” Wales manager Giggs said ahead of his pre-match press conference for their inaugural Nations League tie against the Republic of Ireland in Cardiff on Thursday.
“But I’ve got a big game against Ireland first and all my concentration is on that.”
Denmark are ranked ninth in the world and reached the last 16 of the World Cup in Russia this summer.
But players like Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen and Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel are set to sit out the Wales game because of a row over the players’ commercial rights.
Instead, Denmark have named a squad of part-time players drawn from Danish clubs such as Avarta, Kastrup, Skovshoved and Vanlose.
“It’s very unusual and it’s obviously not ideal,” Giggs said.
“As a footballer you just want to play football but if you feel you’re not getting a good deal you want to get it. You think it would have been sorted by now, but it’s not.
“The problem the Danish Federation have got is that they’ve got to put out some sort of team because they could be banned for four years if they don’t.
The Denmark turmoil has overshadowed Giggs’ first home game as Wales manager and a reunion between two teams who met in a do-or-die World Cup qualifier last October.
The Republic ended Wales’ qualification hopes by winning that Cardiff clash 1-0 before losing to Denmark in a play-off the following month.
“It’s a proud moment for me and I’m very excited,” said Giggs, who has overseen friendlies in China and the United States since his appointment in January.
“We know it’s a team that is going to work hard and make it difficult for us.
“There’s more pressure being my first competitive game but I want my teams to be hard to beat and play attractive football.”
Giggs has reported a full-strength Wales squad with Gareth Bale fit and firing after scoring in Real Madrid’s opening three LaLiga games.
