Denmark and Belgium pay tribute to Christian Eriksen by stopping play ten minutes into Euro 2020 clash in Copenhagen
DENMARK and Belgium stopped play ten minutes into their Euros clash on Thursday in tribute to Christian Eriksen.
Both sets of players paused for Eriksen in emotional scenes in Copenhagen – five days after he collapsed.
The tenth minute was chosen as it’s the shirt number Inter Milan playmaker Eriksen wears for his nation.
A giant Eriksen shirt was also placed on the pitch before kick-off of Thursday’s game at Parken Stadium.
And Belgium captain Jan Vertonghen presented Denmark leader Simon Kjaer with a framed shirt before kick-off.
Yussuf Poulsen gave Denmark an early lead on Thursday and looked to the heavens in celebration as a tribute to his team-mate.
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku – who plays with Eriksen at Inter Milan – looked tearful as he stopped to applaud.
Kevin de Bruyne scored Belgium’s winner in a 2-1 victory and revealed he toned down his goal celebration as a mark of respect.
There were around 25,000 fans inside the stadium, which was the same venue where Eriksen’s scary collapse happened.
The 29-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Group B game against Finland on Saturday.
Tributes and messages of support have flooded in for the former Tottenham midfielder after his scare.
Eriksen will be fitted with a heart-starting device after his scare at the weekend.
The 29-year-old has been recovering in a Copenhagen hospital since the shock incident.
Team doctor Morten Boesen said: “After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter).
“This device is necessary after a cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances.
“Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment.
“We encourage everybody to give Christian and his family peace and privacy the following time.”
An ICD is a device, usually fitted in your chest, that helps people with dangerously irregular heart rhythms and checks your beat all the time.
Ajax defender Daley Blind had an ICD fitted in December 2019 after being diagnosed with an inflammation of his heart muscle.
The Dutchman considered withdrawing from Holland’s Euros opener after seeing his former team-mate and friend Eriksen collapse.
He told Dutch broadcaster NOS: “Yesterday had a huge impact on me.
“Besides the fact that I know Christian well as a friend, the situation for him is terrible.
“Of course I have also experienced a few things in that area, so that I had to overcome a mental hurdle to play.
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“I had a lot of trouble with it, but I’m proud that I did it. Then all the emotion comes out for a while.
“I’ve definitely thought about not taking part. The images and the moment had a lot of impact and I didn’t sleep very well because of them.
“I really had to overcome a big hurdle to do this.”