Eriksen returned to the national team 287 days after suffering cardiac arrest at the finals of the European Championship – and scored a goal straight away.
However, the midfielder was unable to prevent the 2:4 (1:3) defeat in the Netherlands. Eriksen, who had been fitted with a defibrillator, only had to be at Brentford FC in mid-February premier leaguemade a comeback. In Amsterdam he came into play at the break, scored immediately (47th) to connect – and failed in the final phase only on the post (74th).
Steven Bergwijn (16’/71′), Nathan Ake (29′) and Memphis Depay (37’/penalty) were successful for the Netherlands. The second Danish goal was scored by former Bundesliga defender Jannik Vestergaard (20′).
Kane ends Swiss series
In a duel between two World Cup participants, coach Gareth Southgate’s England defeated Switzerland somewhat happily 2-1 (1-1) on Saturday evening (March 26th, 2022) in front of 90,000 spectators at London’s Wembley Stadium.
The Swiss suffered their first defeat in the eighth game under selection coach Murat Yakin, who took over after the European Championship in early August 2021.
Kane level with Charlton: only Rooney scored more often
Harry Kane decided the game with a hand penalty in the 78th minute. Steven Zuber was unlucky when the ball hit his arm during a defensive action in the penalty area. Mönchengladbach’s Breel Embolo headed the Swiss, who had started with five Bundesliga players, ahead in the 22nd minute. Shortly before the end of the first half, Luke Shaw equalized for the “Three Lions” (45+1).
With his goal, Kane drew level with English legend Bobby Charlton in the all-time goalscoring list. Only Wayne Rooney is ahead of him with 53 goals.
Both teams qualified as group winners for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year.
Remarkable success for Qatar
Qatar defeated Bulgaria 2-1 (1-0) in their own country eight months before the World Cup. Akram Afif (27′) gave the home team the lead in Ar-Rayyan with a penalty, Kiril Despodov (60′) equalized for the Bulgarians. Boualem Khoukhi (74′) scored the winning goal.
Source: red/dpa/sid