Dane announces vacation
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This article was published after it was first published on June 7th. updated at 8:25 p.m. and supplemented by a statement from Christian Eriksen (new third and fourth paragraphs).
Wolfsburg midfielder Christian Eriksen collapsed again on the field during a Danish national team game five years after his cardiac arrest during the 2020/21 European Championship. The game against Ukraine on Sunday evening did not start again when the score was 2-1 for the Northern Europeans.
The Danish Football Association then gave the first all-clear. Eriksen is conscious and doing well under the circumstances, the DBU said. “Christian is doing well and left the field under his own power,” team doctor Morten Boesen was quoted as saying by the association. “As far as I can tell, the pacemaker is working as it should. He was only unconscious for a short time, but he came to very quickly and we were able to get in touch with him quickly.”
Update June 8th, 6:19 p.m.: Eriksen released a statement on Monday evening and wrote: “I want to let everyone know that I am doing well and that I am at home with my family. As you can probably imagine, the shock (…) had a big impact on me and my family, but I want to reassure everyone that this was a different situation than what happened in 2021. I am doing well and my recovery has already begun.”
It continued: “In addition to my gratitude for the support and help 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 defibrillator has done exactly what it was designed to do: protect me when I needed it. At the moment, I am focused on recovering, spending time with my family, going on vacation and playing soccer with my children.”
Eriksen was taken to hospital and further examined to determine what caused the incident. “I spoke to Christian this morning and he is doing well. He is with his family and in good spirits. He is expected to be released soon and be able to return home,” said another statement from Boesen on Monday.
Teammates immediately called the Danish team doctors and formed a screen around their captain. The spectators in Odense loudly shouted “Eriksen, Eriksen”. After initial treatment, the Wolfsburg professional was able to stand up again and, to the applause of the spectators and players, walked on his own two feet to an ambulance that drove onto the stadium grounds.
Denmark sports director Møller: continuation of career open
It remains to be seen whether Eriksen will continue his career. “Christian has to answer that. I don’t know. I think it’s absolutely legitimate to ask. But I don’t know,” said Danish sports director Peter Møller. Discussions between Eriksen and VfL Wolfsburg were actually planned this week as to whether he could imagine staying with the Volkswagen club after relegation to the Bundesliga.
“I sent him a voice message,” said VfL sports director Dieter Hecking on Monday afternoon.Picture“I told Christian, among other things, that he can contact me at any time if I or we can help him. I hope that he can go home quickly.” The incident was of course “a shock,” Hecking told the “Kicker“We are relieved that he is doing well given the circumstances and are now waiting for further developments. Our thoughts are with him and his family, he receives our fullest support.”
Meanwhile, Møller announced special measures for the Danish players: “We will make sure that no one goes home alone. They either go with their parents, family or as a group.” In the coming days, coach Brian Riemer wants to call each player to inquire about their well-being.
First drama at the European Championship: Eriksen collapses during the game against Finland
During the 2020 European Championships held in 2021, Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s first game against Finland in Copenhagen. The midfielder still had to be resuscitated on the pitch. Since a defibrillator (ICD) was subsequently inserted into his heart, he was initially unable to continue his career with his club Inter Milan. In Italy, professional sports with defibrillators are not allowed. In 2022, Eriksen instead continued his career in England and moved to VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on a free transfer last year, where he was relegated to the 2nd division at the end of the season. The Danish selection is not qualified for the upcoming World Cup.