COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen was in stable condition Saturday after collapsing during the Euro 2020 soccer opener against Finland.
Eriksen, 29, received immediate treatment on the grass where he had fallen late in the first half, and he was awake when he left Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium, The New York Times reported.
“I just spoke to Christian’s father, and he told me that he is breathing, and that he is able to speak,” Eriksen’s agent, Martin Schoots, told Dutch radio.
🇩🇰 Respect. 🇫🇮
— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 12, 2021
Get well soon, Christian. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/SyWDfFAcXG
Eriksen was struggling as he walked toward the sideline to receive a throw-in, ESPN reported. As the ball was thrown in Eriksen’s direction, it hit him and he collapsed to the ground.
Teammates Martin Braithwate and Thomas Delaney rushed to his side, with Delaney calling for medical assistance, ESPN reported.
Denmark’s players formed a circle to shield Eriksen from view as the medical teams administered urgent care, according to the Times.
The director of the Danish federation, Peter Moeller, told Denmark’s national broadcaster DB that Eriksen had received a “heart massage” on the field.
The match, which had been scoreless, was suspended 42 minutes into the contest, ESPN reported.
Finland won the Group B match 1-0 after it restarted, the BBC reported.
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