x NON-NewsNow

What if it happened in England?

|
Image for What if it happened in England?

In one of the most bizarre international friendlies, a team of Danish semi-pros and amateurs took on a Slovakian team with the likes of Marek Hamšík. The semi-pros did themselves proud, and Slovakia only won 3-0.

The strange match occurred due to an image rights dispute between the Danish FA and Player’s Association. Danish national team players believe the FA is making it more difficult for them to make a living by limiting sponsorship opportunities.

So, all Danish professional players boycotted the Slovakia friendly in an impressive showing of solidarity. Surely, some lower-league players were tempted to bite at the chance to represent their country, but they remained above the fray.

However, the Danish FA was able to cobble together a team of futsal players, amateurs and even a YouTube star. It meant Premier League star Christian Eriksen watched the semi-pro team represent his country on the biggest stage. It also left sports betting websites scrambling to change the odds before the altered Danish team took to the field.

It was a surprise for many football fans, considering Denmark is not a country typically associated with an incapable FA. However, the usual Danish team will take the field for their UEFA Nations League game against Wales. Unfortunately for Gareth Bale, he won’t be able to break scoring records against an amateur Danish defense.

It got us thinking, what if this happened to the Three Lions? Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Harry Maguire all left at home due to a contract dispute. If it can happen to Denmark, it is not so unreasonable to imagine England in a similar scenario.

The rag-tag Danish side that took the field against Slovakia will go down in Danish footballing history. A team of amateur and semi-pros taking the field for England would certainly be the talk of pubs across the country for decades to come.

Many semi professional players across the world likely watched the scenes unfolding in Slovakia with a hint of jealousy. The ability to represent your own country is the dream of many young footballers, but few get to realize it.

Every pub league player would bite your hand off to represent England on the international stage. Then we would likely get to see some proper Sunday league tackles flying in.

With the massive growth of grass-roots football in England, a Three Lions team composed of semi-professionals would probably fair alright on the international stage. Sunday league is experiencing a massive growth in online popularity with internet personalities sharing their amateur experiences with the sport they love.

The most popular iteration is Hashtag United, a social-media based squad founded by YouTube personality Spencer Owen. Owen has taken the team to massive heights for an amateur outfit, and for all purposes, the team is now professional.

What started as a YouTube team has turned into a legitimate football club. They compete in the Eastern Senior League and play regular league matches. But, the club is most well-known for playing high profile matches and bringing in audiences of over a million viewers.

Similar to the KSI vs. Logan Paul boxing match, YouTube and internet personalities are commercializing amateur sport in an unparalleled manner. YouTube has proved to be a platform where young and passionate football fans can convert an audience into massive football games and clubs.

It’s unlikely that YouTube football will result in the next footballing superstar, but marquee matches on an international stage can influence a player’s career and give them more chances in professional football.

While most of the newly capped Danish players will return to their day jobs after the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, some may have caught the eye of a scout. After all, international football is the best stage to show your worth as a footballer.

Share this article