Christian Eriksen collapses again during Denmark vs Ukraine friendly; match called off
Odense, June 8
Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen has collapsed on the pitch once again, nearly five years after his dramatic incident at Euro 2021.
The latest incident took place during Sunday's international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, where he went down in the 65th minute. The 34-year-old VfL Wolfsburg player received prompt medical assistance and was later able to walk to the ambulance on his own.
Following the incident, the Danish Football Federation confirmed on X that Eriksen is conscious and in stable condition, adding that the international friendly between Denmark and Ukraine had been called off after the 34-year-old Danish footballer went down on the field.
"Christian Eriksen is conscious and is doing well under the circumstances," the federation said in a statement on X, adding that the friendly had been called off, as quoted by Reuters.
The incident marked the second time the 34-year-old playmaker collapsed to the turf while representing his country.
The collapse sparked concern among players and supporters, with memories resurfacing of Eriksen's medical emergency during Denmark's UEFA European Championship match against Finland in 2021.
On that occasion, the midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest on the field, received life-saving CPR treatment, and was later fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD).
Despite the setback, Eriksen successfully returned to professional football and continued representing both club and country.
Further updates on Eriksen's condition are awaited from the Danish Football Federation and medical staff.
Meanwhile, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, marking the first time three countries have co-hosted the competition. It will also be the inaugural World Cup to feature an expanded field of 48 teams.
— ANI
Reader Comments
More than just a footballer. Eriksen is a warrior. He came back from cardiac arrest in Euro 2020 to play for Denmark and club. Even with ICD fitted, he continued at top level. Football federations must think now about player safety. Hope proper tests are done before he plays again. From India, sending best wishes for speedy recovery! 🇮🇳🤝🇩🇰
The way he walked to ambulance on his own after collapsing is incredible. Football world needs to have mandatory cardiac screenings for all players. India does not have such protocols in domestic leagues and after seeing this twice now, we must also learn and implement. Quality of medical response in Denmark was top class.
As a football fan, this is heartbreaking to watch again. The Danish medical team acted within seconds which saved his life. But he should seriously consider retirement now. Two cardiac emergencies in five years is no joke. Playing with ICD is risky enough and to have another episode means he is lucky to be alive. Family and doctors should guide him now.
Seeing those Denmark teammates crying and worried reminded me of how we felt for Christian in Euro 2021. The unity shown by football community is heartwarming. Denmark is my favourite European team because of this fighter spirit. Ab bas aur nahi chahiye tension, please rest and recover fully. 🙏
Eriksen's return to football after cardiac arrest was one of the most inspiring sports stories. Now this happens again. As a doctor in India, I can say that ICD patients are advised against high-intensity contact sports. Football
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