Fortunately, after his cardiac arrest at the European Championships, the Danish international Christian Eriksen is in a stable condition. Meanwhile, the criticism of the continuation of the game is growing. This is how the press comments on what has happened.
Two days after the dramatic collapse of Danish international Christian Eriksen in the game against Finland, the exact causes of the 29-year-old’s cardiac arrest are still unclear. Eriksen had to be revived for several minutes in the preliminary round game on Saturday, millions of viewers feared for the life of the athlete, who, to the relief of everyone, contacted his team members on Sunday by video call. “His condition is still stable,” said team doctor Morten Boese, who said that all medical tests had been completed. And: “You were good.”
Meanwhile, criticism grew that the game was resumed after a 107-minute break. “To be honest, I don’t think we should have been back on the pitch,” said Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand.
This is how the international and national press commented on the events surrounding Eriksen.
Denmark
Broadcasting station DR: “One for all and all for Eriksen. The players stood in a circle around Eriksen and tried to block their view of their teammates while the doctors began to give heart massages. The spectators hugged each other, touched their heads. There The father of two was lying and fighting for his life. None of those present in the parking lot will ever be able to shake it off. In a few minutes what began as a football festival had turned into a nightmare. And shortly afterwards it was impossible to hold back the goosebumps, when the Finnish fans shouted the Dane’s first name in the parking lot and the Danes answered with a resounding “ERIKSEN”. Back and forth. He’s one of us. There are more important things than football. ”
Sender TV2, Football commentator Flemming Toft: “The unreal reality. When football becomes indifferent. And time stands still. In something of the most pulsating – life. We held our breath and we prayed that he would make it. It hurt deep inside , where the heart beats. A shock that spread and brought the lacrimal glands to their knees. The thoughts took over and made everything else meaningless. “
“Ekstra Bladet”: “Denmark lost – life won.”
Germany
“New Osnabrück Newspaper”: “Football no longer played a role when it came to life or death. A determined referee, quick-reacting medics and players who protected their friend from the voyeuristic gaze of the cameras, plus respectful TV commentators and sympathy – these were rays of hope for humanity that are allowed to have an effect beyond the day. Or even have to, because the excessive elevation of football, in conjunction with social networks, has led to judgments about players, coaches or officials being made ever faster, ever more mercilessly. Therefore, it was a mistake of the Uefa that To continue the game and it was questionable to offer the teams the option of a replay the next day. Something has to be changed about that attitude. “
“Südwest Presse”: “A Danish international is fighting for his life on the football field – and millions of people are watching. What happened on Saturday in the Copenhagen European Championship arena will not be forgotten by many spectators anytime soon. In any case, the reactions from were great.” Doctors, paramedics, fellow players and spectators on site. They showed what is important in a great need: professional help, solidarity and compassion. “
“Nürnberger Zeitung”: “Would the option to make up for the remaining 50 minutes on Sunday lunchtime really have been a real alternative? If the world of football had collapsed, you would have simply scored the 0-0, the score at the time of the cancellation – and given the Danes a bit of time, to process what you have experienced at least to some extent? Sometimes it is perhaps better to simply remain silent. Or to take an example from the fans of both camps, who made the only appropriate comment in the alternation: “Christian! Eriksen! “
“Wiesbaden Courier”: “That evening there shouldn’t have been a whistle in Copenhagen. The shock was deep among all the players who had recently been very afraid for Eriksen, the emotions were too strong. Uefa would have made this decision for both teams and relocated the game The fact that the European Football Association only offered the next noon at noon as an alternative date is irresponsible and shameful. Footballers are people, not just part of an entertainment show. And a life is worth more than every euro in this relentless business. ”
“Ostfriesen-Zeitung”: “The reaction of the Uefa officials was completely irresponsible. How can the decision whether the game will continue, be passed on to the teams? The game should have been stopped immediately. On Sunday the teams could have discussed how to proceed Whether the schedule is tight and there were few alternatives to choose from is completely irrelevant in such a case. Because there are really more important things in life than football. “
Austria
“The standard”: “The European football association Uefa used the first opportunity to fail as the organizer of the European Championship on Saturday evening. The game between Denmark and Finland a little more than 100 minutes after the collapse of the Danish Christian Eriksen in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen was over From a sporting point of view, a serious mistake. To steal from responsibility by stating that you have given the teams the choice between continuing on the same evening or the next lunchtime is morally reprehensible. (…)
It is pure speculation that the Danes could have converted their footballing superiority into a win against Finland the day after the incident. At least there would have been enough time to provide the players with professional help. The positive news from the hospital would have done the rest. ”
Italy
“Gazzetta dello Sport”: “We’re waiting for you! Eriksen shock: Fear in the live broadcast. Cardiac arrest on the pitch, then he recovers. The great fear for Eriksen. Chris, what a shock.”
“Corriere dello Sport”: “Miracle at the EM. Eriksen collapses on the pitch: The use of Kjaer and the defibrillator save him. Fear during Denmark against Finland: wife, teams and audience in tears.”
“Tuttosport”: “Chris, we are with you! Drama in Copenhagen. He collapses on the square and people fear the worst. From great fear to great relief.”
“The print”: “For a moment the whole stadium stops breathing. There is not a movement, no sound, just an avalanche of silence. There is a man on the ground, Christian Eriksen, he seems dead, maybe he really is for a few minutes , and will be saved by a true miracle. ”
Spain
“Brand”: “We already have European champions: the doctors. Simon Kjaer, a true team captain who became a hero. Without losing his nerve, he put Eriksen in the right position and then took care of the player’s girlfriend to calm her down. Fate would have Kjaer help save the life of his friend and teammate while both are players on two rival teams. Kjaer plays for Milan and Eriksen for Inter. But there is none when life is at stake. “
“The country”: “The blood of all football fans suddenly froze on Saturday at around 6.40 p.m.”
“Sports world”: Danish and Finnish fans sing together for Eriksen. A touching gesture that could be seen and heard in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen while doctors were taking care of Eriksen. The two fan communities from Denmark and Finland spontaneously got together to for Eriksen, who was soon taken to a hospital, from where there was hopeful news about his condition. ”
“As”: “What a shock. Eriksen let the Saturday afternoon freeze. Kjaer, one of Erikson’s rescuers. Kjaer, hero at Eriksen. The Danish captain was one of the first players who stood by him until the doctors arrived. He brought him in.” a stable side position and made sure that the tongue did not block the air supply. “
“Sport”: “Eriksen made us hold our breath. The singing of the Danish and Finnish fans for Christian Eriksen gave goose bumps. The Finns shouted” Christian “and the Danes answered” Eriksen “. The 1-0 win between Denmark and Finland The best news, the most important, comes from Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet, which is less than a kilometer from the Parken Stadium. Christian Eriksen, awake and stable, is recovering in the hospital after collapsing on the pitch. “
Russia
“Sport-Express”: “It seems that the most important event of Euro 2020 has already taken place. And that in the third game. It will be remembered as the European Championship itself, where Christian Eriksen almost died. Fortunately, such a tragedy was prevented. It plays It no longer matters whether the 29-year-old midfielder can continue to play football or whether his career will end now. The main thing is that he is alive. “
USA
ESPN: “The horror over the collapse of Denmark’s Christian Eriksen during the European Championship opening game against Finland on Saturday in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen will stay in everyone’s mind for a while. Hopefully the humanity that followed will stick. Or the perspective, which the sight of paramedics fighting for the life of a 29-year-old father – a fit athlete in the prime of his career – opens up to all of us. Sport, career, money … it all crumbles to dust when it comes to what really matters: life. “
Poland
“Gazeta Wyborcza”: “Christian Eriksen’s drama reminds us that an athlete is not a machine. Most people consider top athletes to be indestructible androids. But wait, how can a well-trained, strong man fall over in front of an audience of millions and just get away with his life? This is the second Situation within a few days in which public opinion has to become aware that even the best athletes in the world are only human: tennis player Naomi Osaka gave up at the French Open, and the official statement said she was going through periods of depression . “
“Fact” (online): “Is there a curse on the stadium in Copenhagen? A footballer had to be revived there 20 years ago. The whole world is moved by the dramatic events that occurred during the encounter between Denmark and Finland at Euro 2020. The Dane Christian Eriksen collapsed on the grass and was resuscitated for a long time.An identical situation, also in the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, happened on March 13, 2001. The Norwegian Stale Solbakken lost consciousness during training and fell over. He was resuscitated for a long time. “
