Dutch fans hold a sign in support of Denmark’s Christian Eriksen before a Euro 2020 match Sunday between Netherlands and Ukraine. Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool via AP
COPENHAGEN — Denmark’s team doctor said Sunday that Christian Eriksen’s heart stopped and that “he was gone” before being resuscitated with a defibrillator at the European Championship.
Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 group game against Finland on Saturday and was given lengthy medical treatment before regaining consciousness.
“He was gone. And we did cardiac resuscitation. And it was cardiac arrest,” said team doctor Morten Boesen, who led the work in giving Eriksen treatment on the field. “How close were we? I don’t know. We got him back after one defib. That’s quite fast.”
Eriksen was in stable condition at a Copenhagen hospital and had spoken to teammates via video link on Sunday, team officials said.
Boesen said it was still unclear what caused the midfielder’s collapse.
“I’m not cardiologist, so the details about why it happened and further, I will leave to the experts,” he said.
He also said the 29-year-old Eriksen may not have survived had the game not been played at a major soccer tournament with top-class medical equipment at hand.
“That was completely decisive, I think,” Boesen said. “The time from when it happens to when he receives help is the critical factor, and that time was short. That was decisive.”
Denmark Coach Kasper Hjulmand said when he spoke to Eriksen, the Inter Milan midfielder was more concerned about his teammates’ well being than his own.
“He said ‘I don’t remember much but I’m more concerned about you guys. How are you doing?’” Hjulmand said. ”That’s typical Christian. … It was good to see him smile.”
The Danish players and team staff were being given crisis management assistance as they process the incident. Eriksen fell face-forward to the ground late in the first half and his teammates formed a protective circle around him while the medics gave him treatment.
The game was suspended for about 90 minutes before resuming. Finland won 1-0 after scoring in the second half.
Denmark canceled a planned training session on Sunday but Hjulmand said they would try to go back to their normal routines on Monday. He insisted the players are determined to finish the tournament, with Denmark playing Belgium next in Group B on Thursday.
“(Eriksen) would like for us to play,” Hjulmand said. “We are trying to get back to some normality tomorrow. That is completely in line with what the psychologists are saying, and the way I want to try to lead this group forward.”
The decision to restart the game on Saturday has been heavily criticized by many in Denmark, including by former players Peter Schmeichel and Michael Laudrup.
UEFA gave Denmark the option to resume the game Sunday at noon, but the players opted to finish it Saturday evening. A later date was not possible because Finland plays its second group game on Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Hjulmand said he remained proud of his players for finishing the game, but that he now had second thoughts about not insisting it should have been called off.
“In hindsight, I wonder if I could have done something differently,” Hjulmand said. “Because when I look back, I honestly do not think we should have been back on the field. I am so proud that the players were able to mobilize and give it a try. It was a huge effort. But I have a guilty conscience that we were back out there.”
SUNDAY’S MATCHES
ENGLAND 1, CROATIA 0: Raheem Sterling grew up in the shadow of Wembley Stadium as it was being rebuilt, even getting a tattoo of its famous arch on his left forearm.
Now playing for his country at the iconic venue, he used his right foot to give England the start it had been longing for at the European Championship.
The winger’s goal – his first in a tournament in his 13th match through four competitions – gave England a 1-0 win over Croatia in its opening game in London.
Never before had England made a winning start to the continental tournament in nine previous tries.
A fan was in serious condition in a London hospital after falling from the stands just after kickoff. No other details were given by the English Football Association.
AUSTRIA 3, NORTH MACEDONIA 1: Austria finally earned a victory at the European Championship, and got the goals it needed from the bench.
Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautović both came on as substitutes and scored late to help Austria beat North Macedonia 3-1 in Bucharest, Romania.
It was Austria’s first win at a major soccer tournament in 31 years, and its first ever at the European Championship.
Austria captain David Alaba set up the winning goal for Gregoritsch, curling in a perfect cross in the 78th minute. Arnautović calmly scored the final goal after rounding the goalkeeper with a minute to go.
NETHERLANDS 3, UKRAINE 2: Denzel Dumfries made up for an earlier mistake by heading in an 85th-minute winning goal, giving the Netherlands a victory in Amsterdam.
Dumfries missed an open header in the first half, but he converted when the team needed it most, heading in a cross from Nathan Ake only minutes after his team had squandered a two-goal lead.
Georginio Wijnaldum put the Dutch in the lead in the 52nd minute, and Wout Weghorst made it 2-0 in the 59th.
But Ukraine captain Andriy Yarmolenko curled a shot over Maarten Stekelenburg in the 75th minute and Roman Yaremchuk dived in front of Weghorst to head in a free kick from the left four minutes later.
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