Christian Eriksen has come out with an interview following the events that occurred over the summer while representing Denmark at the Euro 2020 tournament.
The midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest as Denmark faced Finland in their Euro 2020 opener in Copenhagen last June. Eriksen fell to the ground and looked to be passing out but quick thinking from Simon Kjaer and the solid work from the medical staff on the pitch led to his life being saved.
Fans, players, coaches, clubs and pundits poured out heartfelt emotions towards the Dane’s situation and his home country of Denmark honoured him in a big way during the tournament.
Denmark went on to reach the semi finals of the tournament, using Christian Eriksen’s situation as motivation, much to the happiness of the midfielder. However, they were denied a third place playoff as UEFA changed the rules of the tournament before it began.
Since then, the former Tottenham Hotspur man has been in slow and steady recovery, and finally feels ready to play football again.
“It was quite extraordinary”, Eriksen says of the show of affection received
Eriksen opened up about the incident in an interview with Danish TV channel DR 1. He said: “It was amazing that so many people felt the need to write or send flowers.
“It had an impact on so many people and they felt the need to let me and my family know. That made me very happy.
“At the hospital, they kept saying I’d receive more and more flowers.
“It was weird because I didn’t expect people to send flowers – because I died for five minutes.
“It was quite extraordinary, but it was very nice of everyone and it’s been a big help to me to receive all those best wishes. And people still write to me.
“I’ve thanked people I’ve met in person, I’ve thanked the doctors, my team-mates and their families in person.
“But all the fans who have sent thousands of letters, emails and flowers or who come up to me in the street – both in Italy and Denmark – I thank them all for the support that I got from all over the world that helped me through this.”
Eriksen has offers from the Premier League, agent claims
The 29-year-old midfielder, who was contracted to Internazionale at the time, had to leave the Serie A title holders due to laws preventing anyone with a heart issue from participating in active sport in Italy.
An Inter statement after both parties agreed on a mutual contract termination read: “FC Internazionale Milano announces that an agreement has been reached for the consensual termination of Christian Eriksen’s contract.
“The club and the entire Nerazzurri family embrace the player and wish him the best for his future.
“Christian was a key figure in our march to the Scudetto – a team effort which Eriksen contributed to with his vision, intuition, passing, assists and goals, including some big ones.”
Now a free agent, Eriksen has been training at his boyhood club Ødense Boldklub in Denmark and in Switzerland when in Italy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) fitted to him, as he looks for a way back into professional football.
Eriksen’s agent Martin Schoots told Daily Mail that his client has offers to get back on the pitch, however.
Schoots said: “It is going really well for Christian. He had all the checks just before Christmas and the results were so good that we expect him to be involved in a group training with a team some time later in January.
“But I would prefer Christian to talk about this himself and he will do so very soon.
“Christian is very ambitious. Italy is one of the only countries with these regulations.
“In other countries it is very different. His contract with Inter has been terminated and now we can look forward.”
Eriksen has eyes set on World Cup
Despite his near-death experience, Eriksen has no intention of hanging up his boots.
Speaking in the interview with DR 1, he said: “My goal is to play in the World Cup in Qatar. I want to play.
“That’s been my mindset all along.
“It’s a goal, it’s a dream. Whether I’ll be picked is another thing. But it’s my dream to come back.
“I’m sure I can come back because I dont feel any different. Physically, I’m back in top shape.
“That’s my goal and it’s still some time away. So until then, I’m just going to play football and prove that I’m back at the same level.”
