By Andrew Warshaw
June 14 – As Denmark’s Christian Eriksson continues his recovery in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest during Saturday’s Euro 2020 fixture against Finland, support continues to pour in from across the globe – accompanied by a fair amount of criticism that the game was allowed to resume.
The 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder received CPR after suddenly dropping to the ground at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen shortly before half-time, leaving players from both teams in shock and distress.
Eriksen, whose teammates immediately set up a protective shield around him led by captain Simon Kjaer, underwent prolonged treatment before being rushed to hospital.
Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand was in tears at the post-match press conference, admitting it had been a traumatic experience for all concerned.
“It was a really tough evening, on which we’ve all been reminded what the most important things in life are. It’s meaningful relationships. It’s those people who are close to us. It’s family and friends,” he said.
Denmark’s team doctor Morten Boesen said later that Eriksen’s heart had stopped and that “he was gone” before being resuscitated with a defibrillator.
“How close were we? I don’t know,” he said. “We got him back after one defib. That’s quite fast.”
He said Eriksen may not have survived had the game not been played at a major international tournament with top-class medical equipment at hand.
“That was completely decisive, I think,” Boesen said. “The time from when it happens to when he receives help is the critical factor, and that time was short. That was decisive. We don’t have any explanation why it happened.”
Denmark’s players, who are said to be receiving counselling, were given the option of carrying on – once they knew Eriksson was awake and stable – or coming back on Sunday to finish the game. They opted for the former but went on to lose 1-0 to the Finns, concentration levels having understandably been shot to pieces.
“I could not be more proud of this team, who take good care of each other,” said Hjulmand. “There are players in there who are completely emotionally finished. Players who on another day could not have played this match. They are holding each other. It was a traumatic experience.”
The entire Finland team sent a message of support to Erikson who was inundated with greetings from other teams and clubs – including former club Tottenham Hotspur – dozens of individual players, politicians, royalty and, last but not least, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
“Moments like this put everything in life into perspective. I wish Christian a full and speedy recovery and pray his family has strength and faith,” said Ceferin
Another of those sending a get-well message was Fabrice Muamba, the former Bolton Wanderers midfielder who collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest during a televised FA Cup game at Tottenham in 2012.
In a statement the Danish FA said: “We would like to thank everyone for the heartfelt greetings to Christian Eriksen from fans, players, the royal families from both Denmark and England, international associations, clubs etc.”
UEFA said it agreed to restart the match “following the request made by players of both teams”.
But former Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said it was crazy that the game was allowed to resume at all, regardless of whether it was the players’ decision.
“It’s a ridiculous decision by UEFA,” said Schmeichel. “They should have tried to work out a different scenario and shown a little bit of compassion, and they didn’t.”
Schmeichel, whose son Kasper is the current Danish goalkeeper, told the BBC the players were put in an impossible position.
“That would be the worst two hours in my time in football,” he said.
“Something terrible like that happens and UEFA gives the players an option to go out and play the game or come back at 12:00 on Sunday. What kind of option is that? “The result of the game is completely irrelevant. I mean, how can you play?”
Finland applauded Denmark players back on to pitch but BBC pundit and former player Jermaine Jenas, who was playing for Spurs when Muamba collapsed, was another who said the decision to restart was wrong.
“We had a scenario where someone almost lost their life. There is no way that game should have been played last night,” said Jenas.
“Not one player on that pitch was in the right mindset to be playing a game of football. It needed a day or two to let things settle down and to let people regather their thoughts.”
Hjulmand admitted his players, who had dominated chances and possession before the incident with Erikson, had their minds elsewhere on the resumption.
“Looking back, it was the wrong thing – players were in a shock condition, who almost lost their best friend. I have a sense that we shouldn’t have played. We should have just gone in the bus and went home and see what the next days would have brought.”
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