First international match after heart attack
Eriksen celebrates comeback in the Danish national team with a perfect goal
Christian Eriksen celebrates his goal at the Johann Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam
© Maurice van Steen / AFP
Christian Eriksen is finally back. The Danish soccer professional, who suffered a heart attack at last year’s European Championship, crowned his comeback in the national team with a goal against the Netherlands.
Dream comeback after 287 days, dream goal after 114 seconds – Christian Eriksen’s return to the pitch could be a cheesy chapter from a football fairy tale. But the story is true. And this scene will also mark the second life of the Danish soccer star forever. On June 12, 2021, Eriksen collapsed with a cardiac arrest during the European Championship game against Finland. His life hung by a thread.
After months of suffering and uncertainty, Eriksen is now back in the jersey of the Danish national team. And how! When the hero of the evening trotted onto the pitch at half-time in the 2:4 (1:3) friendly against the Netherlands, the applause of the 50,000 spectators in the stands of the Johan Cruijff Arena rose like a crescendo, as did Bonds coach Louis van Gaal applauded standing and almost reverently.
Christian Eriksen hits the ball perfectly
Less than two minutes after Eriksen’s substitution, the stadium was raging again: the playmaker with the number 10 shirt hit the ball perfectly, the ball hit the top left and suddenly it was only 3:2. Oranje keeper Mark Flekken from SC Freiburg had no chance – unlike Jannik Vestergaard’s 1-1 draw. And the Elftal debutant would have been there too if Eriksen shot the post in the 74th minute.
“I’m still the same football player and I still want to win,” Eriksen told Danish TV channel Kanal 5. Despite all the joy at his return, the 110-time Danish international will celebrate this dramatic evening, June 12, 2021 in Copenhagen’s Parken. never forget. “It’s part of me. It’s part of the world,” the 30-year-old told Dutch TV channel NOS after the comeback.
Only a month ago he made his competitive comeback, Eriksen is now employed by FC Brentford in the English Premier League. Because at his ex-club Inter Milan he was no longer allowed to play with the defibrillator used according to the league statutes.
Corona almost prevented the comeback
Eriksen was also under contract with Ajax Amsterdam for a long time, he gave the TV interview in Dutch. “It’s a pleasure to see him play football,” said selection coach Kasper Hjulmand. Above all, he gave his protégé one thing to take with him to the pitch: “Enjoy it – and welcome back.”
Eriksen stuck to it. “I’ve had good years here and I still know where the goal is,” said the returnee, who also inspired his opponents. “I had goosebumps,” said Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt. “It’s great that he’s back – the way he scored shows his class.”
Eriksen’s comeback almost failed due to a corona infection, but he reported fit in time. “Wonderful to see Christian Eriksen score for Denmark 287 days after we feared the worst. Fantastic,” wrote former England international turned TV pundit Gary Lineker on Twitter. And Brentford FC tweeted: “A perfect story”.
The Elftal, the next German opponents again in Amsterdam on Tuesday, won with goals from the two England pros Steven Bergwijn (16th/71st minute) and Nathan Aké (29th) and a foul penalty from Memphis Depay (38th). Vestergaard equalized for the Danes to make it 1-1 (20′).