DENMARK LOST. BUT LIFE WON

• At the end of a night of huge emotion in Copenhagen, there was relief.

Relief that Christian Eriksen, who collapsed shortly before half-time in Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 game against Finland, was awake and “stable” in hospital.

And relief, too, that those around him acted with such speed. Speed that may well have saved the former Tottenham midfielder’s life.

We take a look at how players, medics and officials all played their part in helping Eriksen.

First on the scene – Simon Kjaer and Denmark’s players
Eriksen’s collapse as he attempted to receive a throw-in started a truly frightening spell at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium.

Denmark’s captain Simon Kjaer was one of the first players on the scene and appeared to clear Eriksen’s airways.

The severity of the incident was apparent, and players from both teams urged the medical staff to hurry on.

As he was resuscitated, Eriksen’s anxious team-mates formed a protective ring around him, offering some privacy from the 15,200 fans in attendance and the millions watching on television.

Many of the players – the majority looking away – were in tears. Some appeared to pray.

Henry Winter, The Times’ chief football writer, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “If you know the Danish side these are not simply team-mates, people like Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel.

“They are friends and they responded to Christian Eriksen in his moment of need. Because of the substance of the men involved, they consoled Christian’s partner, who was distraught pitchside. We build players up and put them on a pedestal but they are humans like the rest of us.”

The 29-year-old Inter Milan player was eventually taken away on a stretcher and brought to hospital.

After the news finally came that Eriksen was awake, the game restarted, with Finland winning 1-0.

Medical staff – ‘We did what we had to do’

Sports cardiologist Professor Sanjay Sharma, who is chairman of the expert cardiology consensus panel for the Football Association, told the BBC “the thing that saved his life was very urgent and rapid medical attention”.

Denmark team doctor Martin Boesen spoke in a post-match news conference and explained how the events unfolded.

“It was clear he was unconscious,” he said.

“When I got to him he was on his side, he was breathing, I could feel a pulse, but suddenly that changed and we started to give him CPR.

“The help came really fast from the medical team and the rest of the staff with their co-operation, and we did what we had to do and managed to get Christian back. He spoke to me before he was taken to hospital.”

Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest during a game for Bolton Wanderers in 2012. He recovered but never played again.

“It brought back stuff that I have put down in me, this emotion that is down there. To watch it from that distance and not know what was going to happen,” he told BBC Sport.

“It was scary, but credit to the medical staff. They have done an amazing job on Christian. I like how his team-mates got together to protect him. It brought back emotion that you don’t really want to see on the other side. I hope things turn out to be OK for him. I hope he will come through.”