Amsterdam (AP) – Christian Eriksen returned to the Danish national football team 287 days after his cardiac arrest at the European Championship – and celebrated a dream comeback in Amsterdam.
The 30-year-old from Premier League club Brentford FC came on as a second-half substitute in the friendly against the Netherlands and received a standing ovation from the fans. Barely two minutes later, the now 110-times Danish national player scored to make it 2:3 (47th) – the victory went to Oranje anyway.
Elftal won the game in front of around 50,000 spectators 4:2 (3:1) with goals from the two England pros Steven Bergwijn (16th/71st minute) and Nathan Aké (29th) and a penalty kick from Memphis Depay ( 38.). Jannik Vestergaard equalized for the Danes to make it 1-1 (20′). Shortly after the break, Eriksen (47th) hit the post – and in the 74th minute from 20 meters.
Both teams have qualified for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year. National coach Kasper Hjulmand has also nominated Eriksen for the next game of the Danes against Serbia. The playmaker collapsed on June 12, 2021 at the European Championships at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen during the game against Finland with a cardiac arrest on the lawn. Rescue workers managed to revive the experienced international and thus save his life.
Exactly a month ago, Eriksen made his competitive comeback at FC Brentford in London. In the game against Newcastle United (0:2), the Dane came on as a substitute in the 52nd minute and was celebrated. After a long forced break, Eriksen has now completed his 110th international match for the former European champion. The Netherlands will receive Hansi Flick’s DFB selection again in Amsterdam for a test duel next Tuesday.