It is sometimes easy to forget the situation that Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen found himself in just two years ago.
On the 12th of June 2021, Denmark took on Finland at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, for the Danes opening clash of EURO 2020.
Christian Eriksen collapsed in the 42nd minute as he was about to receive a throw-in, which led to the footballing world standing still as nightmarish scenes unfolded. As we know now, he suffered a cardiac arrest – but thankfully made a full recovery.
A recent documentary has shed more light on the harrowing situation from the Denmark national team’s perspective.
Simon Kjaer on Christian Eriksen
Netflix recently released a docuseries surrounding the 2022 World Cup called ‘Captains of the World’ – which included a segment on Denmark.
Eriksen was set to play at the World Cup, just a single year after the collapse. Denmark captain, and Eriksen’s guardian angel, Simon Kjaer shared his memories of the day.
He said: “I don’t know if I’d still be playing today, if Christian had… if it had turned out differently. It changed me.
“I remember that day but only because I’ve heard each person’s story from that day. I have an idea about what happened, but I don’t know which memories are mine.
“When Christian began to breathe again, I was told this and went to tell his wife. But I don’t know how I was told, I have no memory of how I got there.
“Since that day, there is no doubt what football means to me.”
Peter Schmeichel on Christian Eriksen
Manchester United and Denmark legend, Peter Schmeichel also shared memories of the same event.
He said: “I was at the game doing it for Danish TV. We did not know what happened, and then when they shielded him, you understood that something was very, very wrong.
“It’s a weird thing to say, but that could have also been my son, so I’m relating to the family as well. Then of course you saw Sabrina [Eriksen’s wife] and Kasper head over to her and you just knew this was something bad. Really bad.
“You think about him being here and being alive. It’s a bloody miracle he is still alive.”
The Great Dane epitomises it there – a bloody miracle. Eriksen’s recovery is magical. From that moment to now, how much he’s achieved is monumental, and he probably doesn’t get enough credit for just how well he bounced back.
It was a dark moment in football history, but thank god Christian Eriksen came out okay from that fateful day in June 2021.
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