Christian Eriksen raises his hand as he leaves the field (Twitter/FabrizioRomano) Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s UEFA Euro 2020 clash against Finland at the Telia Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Saturday, sending the football world into prayers for the Danish star. The match was suspended after the incident as Eriksen seemed not to respond to initial attempts to resuscitate him by medical staff.
The first sign of relief came when Reuters reported that one of their photographers at the game saw Eriksen raise his hand as he was carried from the pitch on a stretcher.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano also shared news that Eriksen was responding and conscious while being stretchered off.
Getty Images official picture. Christian Eriksen seems conscious. All prayers and thoughts with Chris and his family ❤️🙏🏻🇩🇰 pic.twitter.com/93PUM59ruZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 12, 2021
Eriksen collapsed suddenly while running near the left touchline during the match. The midfielder’s teammates formed a ring around him as medics pumped his chest just before halftime in their Group B clash.
All our thoughts and prayers are with Christian Eriksen 🙏🇩🇰
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 12, 2021
The match was suspended due to a ‘health emergency’, UEFA said in a statement.
While the players had left the pitch teary-eyed, the crowd at the stadium began to pick up voice. While Finnish fans shouted “CHRISTIAN”, Danish fans shouted “ERIKSEN”.
Finland 🇫🇮 fans: “CHRISTIAN”
Denmark 🇩🇰 fans: “ERIKSEN”
This is why they call it the beautiful game ❤️
— International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) June 12, 2021
A little less than an hour after the incident, the football world allowed itself a sigh of relief as the much-awaited statement from the Denmark FA came, saying the footballer was stable in hospital.
“Christian Eriksen is awake and is undergoing further examinations at Rigshospitalet,” said a statement from the Denmark FA.
Eriksen, the 29-year-old talismanic creative midfielder for the Denmark side, has had an illustrious career spread across Ajax, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan. He finished second in the Premier League with Spurs and has played in the Champions League final.
A free-kick specialist known for his deadly accuracy in delivering crosses and through balls, Eriksen is the most internationally reputed footballer from Denmark since John Dahl Tommasson.
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