Christian Eriksen is back home with his family and 'doing well' after collapsing during Denmark's match against Ukraine on Sunday evening. The Denmark midfielder shared on Instagram that 'this was a different situation from what happened in 2021.'
Incident on the Pitch
Television footage showed Eriksen clutching his chest in the 65th minute of the fixture. The match was swiftly stopped and later called off amid concerns for the former Tottenham and Manchester United player.
Eriksen had previously been fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device after suffering a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020 during a 1-0 defeat to Finland. That device allowed him to continue his playing career.
The 34-year-old triggered fresh concerns on Sunday, but the Danish Football Union later confirmed he was 'conscious and doing well.' National team doctor Morten Boesen provided another encouraging update on Monday.
Doctor's Statement
'I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well. He is with his family and in good spirits,' said Boesen in a statement via DBU. 'We are taking good care of the players and staff and remain in regular contact with them.'
With Denmark leading 2-1 at Nature Energy Park, Eriksen felt unwell and momentarily lost consciousness. Boesen, who was also present when Eriksen collapsed five years ago, confirmed the midfielder underwent further tests at the hospital.
Manager's Account
Denmark's manager Brian Riemer disclosed that Eriksen acknowledged his teammates after the incident. 'Christian Eriksen waved to his teammates as he left the pitch,' Riemer told reporters. 'A few minutes before he fell ill, he had a tussle with Ruslan Malinovskyi, and I thought that was why he looked so distressed, but I was wrong. From that moment on, neither I nor the players on the pitch could have carried on with the match.'
Previous Collapse and Recovery
Eriksen needed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at Parken Stadium after collapsing during Euro 2020, before having a pacemaker installed days later. At the time, he was signed to Inter Milan, but Serie A regulations prohibit players with a pacemaker from participating in the league. This led the midfielder to resume his career at Brentford in 2022, followed by a three-year stint at Manchester United. He transferred to Wolfsburg last summer.
Eriksen's Own Words
A post shared by Christian Eriksen on Instagram read: 'As you can probably imagine, receiving a shock from my ICD has had a major impact on both me and my family, but I want to reassure everyone that this was a different situation from what happened in 2021. I am feeling good, and my recovery has already started.'
'In addition to being grateful for the support and assistance of all the players and the medical team on the field, I am also incredibly grateful to the doctors who have cared for me and my heart over the years. Thanks to their expertise, my ICD did exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it.'
'For now, my focus is on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation, and playing football with my children.'
