News Focus
- Christian Eriksen fell ill during Denmark’s friendly match with Ukraine in Odense on Sunday
- The 34-year-old midfielder woke up and walked off the pitch before doctors treated him
- Denmark’s team doctor confirms Eriksen is stable, talking with his family and in good spirits
- His implanted heart device worked correctly to control his heartbeat during the incident
- The match was abandoned in the 65th minute following the medical emergency
Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen is recovering well after falling ill during an international friendly. Team doctor Morten Boesen says the player is now in “good spirits” and should go home from hospital soon.
The incident happened on Sunday in Odense. Eriksen fell to the ground in the 65th minute of the match against Ukraine. Medical staff rushed to help him. The player later woke up and walked off the pitch. Officials then stopped the game completely.
Boesen spoke to Eriksen on Monday morning. “I talked with Christian today. He is doing well. He is with his family and feels positive,” the doctor said. He added that doctors will let the midfielder leave hospital shortly.
This is not the first time Eriksen has faced a heart problem on the pitch. In 2021, his heart stopped beating during a Euro 2020 match against Finland. Doctors later placed a small device inside his chest. This machine acts like a pacemaker and controls his heartbeat. It is called an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD).
The device worked perfectly during Sunday’s incident. “The pacemaker responded as it should,” Boesen confirmed.
The ICD allowed Eriksen to return to professional football in 2022. He first joined Brentford. Then he played for Manchester United for three years. The Danish star has also played for Tottenham Hotspur in the past. Now he plays for German club Wolfsburg.
In a past interview with BBC Sport, Eriksen said he feels safe playing with the ICD. “I do not see any risk. If something happens, the device keeps me safe,” he explained.
Neither Denmark nor Ukraine will play in the upcoming World Cup. The tournament starts on Thursday.