Thomas Pyndt’s Denmark v Belgium preview: Denmark thinking of Eriksen ahead of second Euro 2020 game
Our Matchday Squad journalist will be covering Denmark throughout Euro 2020
Denmark lost the opening game against Finland 1-0, but it didn’t matter at all. All that matters is that Christian Eriksen is alive and doing as well as possible, smiling and talking with his family and his teammates.
You have all seen or heard about the terrible events in Parken on Saturday evening when Eriksen collapsed and had to be resuscitated. It was the longest few minutes in Danish football history but thankfully he made it through and is now at Rigshospitalet, half a mile from the national stadium, where Denmark will play Belgium on Thursday evening.
The talk in Denmark has not been about this game at all though. It has been about Christian Eriksen’s well-being, his teammates and the impossible options that UEFA gave the Danish team Saturday evening on how to finish the game. And the team has been enveloped in love and support from the nation.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel said: ”It wasn’t only us players that were in a horrible situation. It was everyone in the stadium. A whole country was watching. And was powerless.”
”Now we have to try and turn this into some motivation. It is important to remember that there is also a positive side. Christian is still here. We have to play again soon and we react as we do. But the most important thing is that we do our best. If we win, lose or tie the game, we must be able to look each other in the eyes and say, that we gave everything we could. If it’s not enough, it’s not enough. But we will give everything we have.”
