An hour of terror in Copenhagen during Denmark-Finland starting from 43 ‘of the first half when Christian Eriksen collapses to the ground in a phase of the game, losing consciousness on the ground.
A scene that takes the breath away from the players, the spectators in tears in the stands. The cameras linger over the images, the commentators are dismayed. The 29-year-old Inter player is immobile. It is immediately clear that it is not a game injury, a simple fainting. Also because there had been no game contact. The Danish comrades put their hands in their hair. An ambulance is called, then stopped. The player does not move, with his head turned. One senses the drama, one does not want to believe in the tragedy already seen in so many playing fields, especially minor ones, never in a competition of such an important competition.
The doctor practices cardiac massage, the intervention is prolonged over time without result, the defibrillator is brought. The tearful Danish players flank their partner, form a circle of vision protection to safeguard Eriksen, an act of love and respect. The player’s wife arrives on the sidelines, weeps, consoled by the men on the bench. Nobody thinks about the match, the result, the spectators fall silent, cry and pray, until the only possible decision is made. Match suspended, the stretcher takes Eriksen away: then a photo on Twitter, who has immediately gone around the world, shows the watchful Inter, with his eyes open and one hand to support his forehead.
Then the release from UEFA at 19.55 was greeted by a roar from the public still present in the stands: «Eriksen is stable and awake. He was transferred to the hospital. ‘
The player is sedated and his condition improves. The Danish Football Association reassures: “Eriksen is awake.” Hands joined as a sign of prayer, encouragement from teammates and rivals scattered now in the various national teams: it is a chorus that joins, from Ronaldo to Inter, to fellow Sensi and Hakimi. “Come on Chris!” they all repeat. Peter Moller, Denmark’s technical director, told public television that Christian Eriksen spoke to his teammates from his hospital bed and reassured them of his condition.
The players asked to be able to return to the pitch at 20.30 to play the rest of the match which ended with Finland’s 1-0 victory.
Who is Christian Eriksen
Born in 1992 in Middelfart, Eriksen made his debut with Ajax in 2010, just before turning 18. In 2013 he moved to Tottenham for 14.5 million euros where he collected 226 appearances and 51 goals with which he reached a Champions League final in 2019. In 2020 he moved to Inter for 27 million euros by signing a contract until 30 June 2024. He played 43 games with Inter, scoring 4 goals and was one of the main protagonists of winning the Scudetto in 2020-2021. He was awarded four times as Danish Footballer of the Year in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018.