(Copenhagen) Captain of the selection for his return to the stadium where he suffered a cardiac arrest in June during the Euro, the Danish number 10 Christian Eriksen was given a standing ovation by the Copenhagen public on Tuesday.
Posted at 1:24 p.m.
“Welcome to Christian House” banners in English and Danish were unfurled by fans as players entered the pitch at Parken, the capital’s national stadium, for a Denmark-Serbia friendly match.
The match is sold out, unheard of for a friendly match for years.
Eriksen, who currently plays in Brentford in the Premier League, had confided his emotion on the eve of driving back the lawn of a now very special stadium.
“It has always been special to play in Parken but tomorrow it will probably be a little more special”, explained number 10 on public television DR.
“It’s a good end to a chapter but also the start of a new one”.
On June 12, 2021, the 30-year-old playmaker collapsed on the stadium lawn, victim of cardiac arrest, remaining lifeless for long minutes before returning to him after an emergency rescue.
He has since been living with an internal defibrillator.
Eriksen shone on Saturday for his return to selection against the Netherlands, scoring two minutes after entering the game, largely eclipsing the Danish defeat (4-2).
At half-time on Tuesday, Denmark led 1-0 against Serbia, after a goal from full-back Joakim Maehle in the 15thand minute.