Eriksen enjoys 'very different' Euros experience

STUTTGART, Germany — Christian Eriksen said he had nothing other than soccer on his mind after scoring in Denmark's 1-1 draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024, almost three years to the day since he suffered an on-field cardiac arrest.

Eriksen put Denmark ahead in the first half of its Group C opener in Stuttgart on Sunday, as the Manchester United midfielder scored his first European Championship goal at his third tournament.

He featured at Euro 2012 and again at the COVID-delayed 2020 edition, where he collapsed during Denmark's opening 1-0 loss to Finland and had to be resuscitated on the pitch with the aid of a defibrillator.

Eriksen, now 32, has said that he no longer dwells too much on that fateful day in Copenhagen.

"I do think that, this time, my story at the Euros is very different from the last one," he said.

"Luckily it's been a lot of games since the last time and since it happened. I felt confident in playing again, so, in that sense, I was just happy to be back playing."

Eriksen, who made his international debut as a teenager just ahead of featuring at the 2010 World Cup, is playing at his sixth major tournament overall.

"I did have it in mind that I hadn't scored at the Euros, but nothing other than football was on my mind. In the end it would've been a different story if we'd got the three points, we'd have been much happier."

Denmark faces England next, the team that knocked it out in the semifinals at Wembley after extra time at the last Euros, while Eriksen was watching on from hospital.

"It's a wake-up call for us," Eriksen said of the draw with Slovenia. The Danes play Serbia in their final group game on June 25.

Wind assists Eriksen

A quick throw-in was flicked on by Jonas Wind into the stride of Eriksen, who crashed a low shot into the far corner to give the Danes the lead.

With Benjamin Sesko being closely monitored by the Danish defense, Andraz Sporar failed to take advantage of a hole in the backline, as he failed to properly control a bouncing ball forward when he looked through on goal.

Sesko almost handed Denmark a second, as he hacked a clearance in his own area against his teammate, Jan Oblak, and watched on in hope as the ball skipped just wide of his goal.

Eriksen blazed over just before halftime after more excellent work from the lively Wind, with Slovenia defender Jaka Bijol close to heading into his own net after a Denmark set-piece early in the second half.

Oblak produced a brave stop to prevent Rasmus Hojlund doubling the advantage, blocking the United forward's effort from point-blank range to keep his team in it.

Adam Gnezda Cerin glanced a cross wide, as Slovenia pressed for an equalizer. Shortly afterward, Sporar stabbed wide as he lunged to meet a freekick.

Sesko was desperately unlucky to see his rasping drive cannon back off the post, but Slovenia was soon level.

Denmark could not properly clear a corner, and Erik Janza's thumping half-volley from just outside the penalty box brushed off Morten Hjulmand to leave Kasper Schmeichel stranded.

Sporar had the chance to snatch victory for Slovenia after bursting past Jannik Vestergaard, but he powered into the side-netting as Schmeichel appeared to get the faintest of touches.

Never wavered

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said his faith in Eriksen had never wavered.

"I've never had my doubts with Christian as a football player," he said.

"You cannot hold down that kind of class. He's a natural player who knows the rhythm of the game. He knows how to play.

"For me he's a great player and showed it today."

It was exactly 1,100 days ago that Eriksen collapsed on the field at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen while playing for Denmark against Finland. In scary scenes, medics worked frantically to give him chest compressions, before he was carried away on a stretcher.

He returned to the sport in 2022, fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, and — now aged 32 — is still an integral part of Denmark's team.

"He's special," Denmark striker Yussuf Poulsen said. "It's special that we're even able to play with him again. I'm happy for him.

"I'm happy for the team also, but I'm really happy for him, not just today, but in general. Happy that he can be with us and create some memorable moments."

Agencies Via Xinhua