Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine on Sunday evening, forcing the match in Odense to be abandoned — but the 34-year-old is now conscious and in good spirits, according to the national team doctor.
The game was stopped in the 65th minute when Eriksen fell to the ground. Denmark captain Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg described the scene to Danish broadcaster TV2: "There's a throw-in, and then I go out to the side. I turn around a bit, and I see Christian on his way to the floor, and we know a little about how he reacts, what that means."
“Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark's friendly against Ukraine but is now conscious and in good spirits, says team doctor.”
Hojbjerg praised those who attended to his teammate: "[Everyone] reacted super-fast and with respect. I can only compliment how much courage those who took care of Christian on the field had."
Eriksen, who had been fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match against Finland in 2021, was briefly unconscious but regained consciousness quickly. Denmark's national team doctor Morten Boesen said: "As I see it, the pacemaker responded as it should."
After receiving treatment on the pitch, Eriksen was able to walk off and was taken to hospital for further examinations. Boesen added: "I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well. He is with his family and in good spirits. The expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home."
The ICD — a device about half the size of a mobile phone that constantly monitors the heart rhythm — allowed Eriksen to resume his playing career with Brentford in 2022, eight months after his collapse at the Euros. He subsequently spent three years with Manchester United before joining Wolfsburg last summer, making his 151st international appearance when he collapsed.
In 2022, before his comeback at Brentford, Eriksen told BBC Sport he had no concerns about playing with an ICD: "I don't see any risk, no. I have an ICD, if anything would happen then I am safe."
Both sets of players had formed a ring around Eriksen while he was receiving treatment, a scene that echoed the dramatic events of Euro 2020. After the match was abandoned, players from both teams applauded fans as Eriksen left in an ambulance.
Boesen said Eriksen asked him to send his regards to the squad: "Christian is doing well, and he asked me to send his regards to all the players and tell them that he was OK."
The former Manchester United and Tottenham midfielder will now undergo further examinations at the hospital to determine what caused the incident.