Eriksen gives first interview after collapse – “I want to play”
Denmark’s footballer Christian Eriksen during a training session with the Danish national team in the summer of 2021
Source: dpa / Tim Goode
Seven months after he had to be revived during a European Championship match, the Danish international Christian Eriksen spoke up for the first time. The sympathy touched him hard. Despite having an implanted defibrillator, he wants to go to the World Cup in Qatar.
Dhe Danish national soccer player Christian Eriksen wants to go back to the big soccer stage. “My goal is to be at the World Cup in Qatar. I want to play, ”said Eriksen in his first interview after his collapse at the European Championship last summer. “It’s a goal, a dream. Whether I will then be nominated is another matter. But it’s my dream to come back, ”said the 29-year-old in an interview published on Tuesday by Danish TV channel DR1.
The midfielder collapsed on the pitch in Copenhagen on June 12, 2021 during the European Championship group game against Finland and had to be resuscitated. He is sure that his comeback could work: “Because I don’t feel any different. Physically I’m in top form again. ”He wanted to go back to the national team and show that his collapse was only a one-off and will not happen again. “My heart is not an obstacle,” emphasized Eriksen. Whether he comes back is now up to the coaches.
At the same time, Eriksen thanked him for the worldwide sympathy. “It was incredible that so many people felt the need to write to me or give me flowers. It touched so many people – and they wanted to show my family and me that. That makes me happy, ”said the two-time family man. Even when he was in the hospital, countless fans brought flowers over for days. “It was strange because I didn’t expect people to send me flowers because I was dead for five minutes,” said Eriksen, who was implanted with a defibrillator. This recognizes cardiac arrhythmias and triggers shocks in an emergency.
He is deeply touched that so many people are worried about him and his state of health and continue to do so. “It was extraordinary. It has been a great help to me to have all of the sympathy. And people are still texting me. I thanked everyone and I want to thank everyone, ”said Eriksen, who had to terminate his contract with Inter Milan. In Italy, no athlete is allowed to play with a defibrillator. Where he will continue his career is still open.
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