Christian Eriksen sent a positive message to his Denmark teammates after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly match against Ukraine in Odense. The 34-year-old midfielder received immediate medical attention and was taken to hospital, with the game abandoned shortly after.
Incident and Response
With the score at 2-1 in the second half, Eriksen collapsed on the field. He was treated by medical staff and later walked to the ambulance unaided, receiving applause and chants from both sets of fans. National team doctor Morten Boesen confirmed that Eriksen's pacemaker delivered a shock as intended. "Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch himself. As I see it, the pacemaker gave a shock, as it is supposed to. He was briefly out, but regained consciousness very quickly," Boesen stated.
Message from Eriksen
Boesen added that Eriksen asked him to relay a message to the squad: "He asked me to say hello to all the players and say that he was okay." The former Tottenham and Manchester United star previously suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 but made a full recovery.
Coach's Reaction
Denmark head coach Brian Riemer expressed his emotional response and planned to visit Eriksen in hospital. "I feel empty. I'm looking forward to seeing him. I'll drive over to him now, when I can. I need to see him, I can feel it. And talk to him. He is a man who has meant a lot to me. Some players you get closer to than others, and he was one of those I got close to at Brentford," Riemer told Tipsbladet.
Riemer initially thought Eriksen had been tackled but quickly realised the severity. "The players formed a ring around Christian. I tried to keep an overview of how we should approach it all," he added.
Medical Update
Eriksen will undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine the cause of the incident. Boesen confirmed that medical staff are in continuous contact with the player and his doctors. The incident drew widespread support from the football community, with fans and players showing solidarity.
