A well-known Finland victory of their first game on the finals of a significant match was eclipsed by near-tragedy when Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed throughout their Euro 2020 match and required emergency medical remedy on the pitch.
The Finns went on to win their Group B opener 1-0 due to a Joel Pohjanpalo objective, however the game will go down in historical past as the evening the collapse of considered one of Denmark’s biggest playmakers threw the footballing world into shock for over an hour.
Having dominated the game for the opening 42 minutes, the 29-year-old collapsed as Denmark took an innocuous throw-in, sinking to the bottom along with his eyes open.
His teammates Joakim Maehle, Thomas Delaney, and Martin Braithwaite beckoned for help, and Eriksen was given CPR by a medical workforce as the Danes shaped a hoop round him earlier than he was carried off on a stretcher and each groups left the pitch.
The game was stopped for a chronic interval, the group’s shocked silence solely breaking when it was revealed that Eriksen, who performs for Inter Milan, had been transported to a hospital.
The Finnish followers started chanting “Christian” and the Danes responded with “Eriksen” as the 16,000 in attendance waited for extra information, and to see if the game can be resumed.
Finnish followers now chanting “Christian” with complete stadium of Danish followers answering “Eriksen!”
Get nicely quickly #ChristianErikson.
Give a like praying for his restoration #denmarkvsfinland #PrayForEriksen #FuerzaEriksen #euro2020gr #UefaEuro2020 #prayforeriksen pic.twitter.com/723XugnqVZ
— Indranil Ojah (@IndranilOjah) June 12, 2021
Further excellent news that Eriksen was aware and speaking was introduced to jubilation within the stadium, however when the concept of restarting the game was floated it got here type a impossible supply – Eriksen himself.
“We have been in contact with him, and the players have spoken with Christian. That’s the good news. He is doing well and they are playing the match for Christian,” Danish FA director Peter Mueller stated.
DANES AFFECTED
The gamers returned to the pitch and went by their warm-up drills for a second time however the Danes have been clearly affected by the trauma of Eriksen’s collapse, with some wiping away tears and lots of hugs being exchanged.
Respect.
Get nicely quickly, Christian. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/SyWDfFAcXG
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 12, 2021
Pohjanpalo popped up in opposition to the run of play to go the winner on the hour mark along with his aspect’s solely try of the game earlier than celebrating in a restrained vogue on the aspect of the sector the place Eriksen had collapsed.
Pierre Emil Hojbjerg missed a penalty for Denmark nevertheless it was an evening when soccer didn’t matter, with Eriksen being handled at a hospital about one kilometer away.
“There are players in there who are completely emotionally finished… they are holding each other. It was a traumatic experience,” Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand informed reporters, struggling to carry again tears.
“I said that, no matter what, everything was OK. We had to allow ourselves to show joy and aggression, to make room for the emotions. You cannot play a football match at this level without being aggressive. It cannot be done,” he added.
Hjulmand revealed that workforce captain Simon Kjaer, who’s a detailed pal of Eriksen’s, needed to be withdrawn from the game after the restart.
“Simon was deeply, deeply affected. Deeply affected. He was in doubt whether he could continue and gave it a shot, but it could not be done,” the coach defined.
For the Finns, it was a bittersweet second that places them in place to qualify for the knockout stage, nevertheless it mattered little after the ultimate whistle.
“Today we’re all winners as long as the healing process is well underway … everything else is a bonus and less important, our thoughts are all there,” goalkeeper Lucas Hradecky stated.
“It was grim in the locker room and we were all thinking ‘What will happen now?’ and hoping everything will be fine. It was a really hard day,” added the Finland participant.
