Eriksen expected to be discharged after on-pitch collapse during pre-FIFA WC friendly against Ukraine
Odense, June 8
Denmark footballer Cristian Eriksen is expected to be "discharged" from hospital soon after collapsing on the pitch during Sunday's pre-FIFA World Cup friendly against Ukraine, said the national team's doctor on Monday.
Eriksen collapsed on the pitch once again, nearly five years after his dramatic incident at Euro 2021. During Sunday's international friendly against Ukraine in Odense, he collapsed to the floor in the 65th minute, grabbing his chest. The 34-year-old VfL Wolfsburg player received prompt medical assistance and was later able to walk to the ambulance on his own. However, the match was abandoned.
"I spoke with Christian this morning, and he is doing well," team doctor Morten Boesen said in a statement posted to the federation's social media as quoted by ESPN. "He is with family and in good spirits.
"The expectation is that he will be discharged soon and can return home. We are taking good care of the players and staff and remain in regular contact with them," he added.
Following the incident, the Danish Football Federation had 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."
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.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Really scary to watch live. I was expecting it would be a routine friendly but fans must have been terrified. Medical team deserves a big round of applause—they handled it professionally. Eriksen is truly lucky to have beaten death twice. Stay strong, champion! 🏆💪
As a football fan, this brings back the Euro 2021 nightmare. Glad he is stable and conscious. The quick response is proof that having defibrillators and trained medics on site is non-negotiable. Hope he recovers fully and can decide what's best for his long-term health. 👏🫡
What a miracle man! First time in Euro 2020, now again in a friendly. But I wonder if he should consider retiring? Playing with an ICD and still collapsing on field is a huge risk. Football is great but life is greater. Hope his doctors advise him well. God bless. 🕉️🙏
I wish him a full and speedy recovery. The way he walked to the ambulance with calm really shows his resilience. But is no one questioning the frequency of these episodes? Maybe the ICD isn't working perfectly or the condition is getting worse. Needs thorough check-up, not just a quick discharge. Stay safe, Christian! ❤️🩹
My heart skipped a beat reading this. Eriksen is such an inspiration for many footballers and fans. But I think it's time he considers stepping away from competitive football. No achievement is
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.