Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch during his side’s international friendly against Ukraine on Sunday, forcing the match to be abandoned. Eriksen, who was playing for Denmark in the friendly, clutched his chest and fell to the ground in the 79th minute, prompting immediate concern among players and officials. Medical personnel rushed onto the field to attend to the midfielder as the game was halted.
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The match, with Denmark leading 2-1 at the time, was subsequently abandoned. Neither Denmark nor Ukraine qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making Sunday’s friendly an important part of their preparations for future international matches.
The Danish Football Federation later confirmed on social media that Eriksen was conscious and receiving medical attention following the incident.
“Christian Eriksen is conscious and is doing well under the circumstances,” the federation said, adding that the friendly had been called off.
The 34-year-old briefly lost consciousness but regained it quickly after treatment and was able to walk off the pitch. He was subsequently taken to the hospital for further examinations.
Eriksen’s collapse during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on Sunday immediately revived memories of the harrowing incident that shook world football at Euro 2020.
It was the second time Eriksen had collapsed while representing Denmark. Television pictures showed the midfielder clutching his chest before falling to the turf in the second half, triggering immediate concern among players, officials and supporters.
Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening European Championship match against Finland in Copenhagen in June 2021 and required life-saving treatment on the pitch before being rushed to hospital.
Medical staff performed CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to restart his heart, with the swift intervention widely credited with saving his life. In the aftermath, serious doubts were raised over whether he would ever return to professional football.
The midfielder, however, mounted one of the sport’s most remarkable comebacks. After being fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) — a device designed to detect and correct dangerous heart rhythms — he resumed his career with Brentford in 2022 before joining Manchester United later that year. He now plays for German club VfL Wolfsburg.
“There’s a throw-in, and then I go out to the side, and I turn around a bit, and I see Christian on his way to the floor,” Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg told Danish broadcaster TV2.
“Everyone reacted super-fast and with respect. I can only compliment the courage of those who took care of Christian on the field. The most important thing is that Christian is doing well.”
Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen later reassured supporters that Eriksen’s condition was stable.
“The pacemaker is working as it should. He was briefly gone, but very quickly regained consciousness,” Boesen told Danish media.
“He will now be examined further in hospital to find out what caused the incident. We are in constant contact with him and the doctors. Christian asked me to tell all the players that he was okay.”
Following the abandonment of the match, players and coaching staff from both teams gathered in a circle at the centre of the pitch as Denmark coach Brian Riemer thanked everyone involved in the response.
“The most important thing is that Christian is doing well. He has left the field and sent his regards to the players,” Riemer said.
“Now it’s about standing together and ensuring that everyone has a shoulder to lean on.”
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
