On the verge of drama.
Faced with a little more than 16,000 shocked spectators, and players who were even more shocked, Christian Eriksen collapsed on the lawn in Copenhagen on Saturday, in the dying minutes of the Denmark-Finland first period match. Euro 2020. A terrible, startling, frightening image.
No blow or shock: the Inter player simply collapsed full length after staggering for a few moments.
The wait then began.
Anguish.
Seeing Eriksen rolled back, unresponsive, fear swept through the stadium and the football world.
The whole of the Danish selection gathered around the playmaker, inert, quickly supported by the doctors who performed cardiac massage on the lawn.
Some of the Danish (and Finnish) players were calling on God.
Others had tears in their eyes.
And there was something to tremble.
Live: After scare Eriksen, Denmark surprised by Finland
Images that did not fail to recall those of the late Marc-Vivien Foé, who died in the middle of a match in 2003, at the Gerland stadium in Lyon, during a semi-final of the Confederations Cup between Cameroon and Colombia… The Indomitable lion, notably through Lens and Olympique Lyonnais, died at the age of 28 ...
"We managed to bring Christian back"
Martin Boesen, Danish team doctor
Fortunately, Eriksen had regained consciousness when he was exfiltrated from the field, on a stretcher. The Danish federation quickly confirmed that the 29-year-old was "conscious" when he arrived at the hospital. Yet he came close to death, as Martin Boesen, doctor of the Danish team, told him. “We were called into the field when Christian collapsed, I hadn't seen him fall myself, but it was clear that he was unconscious. When we got near him he was on his side, he was breathing and I could feel his pulse, but suddenly everything changed and as everyone could see we started giving him a heart message. The medical team (from the tournament) came quickly and with their help we did what we needed to do. We managed to bring Christian back ”,he recounts. A resurrection, in the medical sense of the word.
Emotional lift
We then learned that the former player of Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham had communicated with his teammates in selection by
FaceTime
.
Which teammates have requested to resume and end this match, as reported by UEFA.
A good hour after stopping the part "for medical emergency", the two teams indeed found themselves on the meadow to do battle.
For the record, it was Finland who had plenty of points (1-0 victory). But that is not what will remain of this meeting in the form of an emotional elevator. “Times like this put everything in life into perspective. I wish Christian a full and speedy recovery and pray that his family will have strength and faith, said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. And to add: “In these times, the unity of the football family is so strong and he and his family carry with them the good wishes and the prayers of each one. I have heard fans of both teams chanting his name. Football is beautiful and Christian plays it beautifully. "
It is not only the fans gathered in the stands of the Danish capital who chanted the name of Christian Eriksen.
Belgian international, his club teammate Romelu Lukaku also had a thought for him when scoring for the Red Devils on Saturday night, against Russia (3-0).
The former Lille Simon Kjaer, very close to Eriksen in the city, for his part was replaced shortly after the hour mark, unable to continue because too affected as revealed by the Danish coach, Kasper Hjulmand, against the press.
"I couldn't be prouder of my players"
Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark coach
“The players decided to play and what they tried to do is amazing. They initially decided not to do anything until they were sure Christian was aware and everything was OK. I couldn't be more proud of my players, they take care of each other, ”added the 49-year-old manager, referring to“ one of the best players and an even better person ”to speak of Eriksen. Note that the companion of this elegant environment passed by Ajax was in the stands on Saturday. We can imagine his terror ...
The following ? In sporting terms, Denmark - presented as a fine outsider - will have to recover after their Finnish disappointment. If possible from its next release, against Belgium (June 17). But as far as Christian Eriksen is concerned, we are still waiting to learn more about the causes of this malaise and possible consequences. One can imagine everything, even an anticipated end of career for this player under contract until 2024 with the champions of Italy… In the meantime, “it is a national shock which has become a national relief”, as summarized by the Premier Danish Minister, Mette Frederiksen. And to conclude: "Rarely has the fact that a match has been won or lost has seemed so unimportant." Barely...
