Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel were heroes in the harrowing moments they experienced while trying to revive Eriksen, who fell lifeless on the field while playing with Finland.
Denmark – Finland, 12 June 2021. The second day of the European Championship 2020. The stands at Parken Stadium were in good shape as they awaited the first Group B game in ecstasy. On one side was the experienced and beloved Denmark, which even managed to win the title of European champion. On the other hand, Finland made its debut in the final. The ingredients were collected for another two hours of parties. The ball rolled. But now, the minute 43 has come.
Christian Erickson was expecting a simple throw-in when he fell lifeless. And from the 43rd minute we got little. Joy gave way to shock. The smile gave way to tears. The noise was replaced by silence. A 29-year-old man showed us how life is uncontrollable and can change from one moment to the next. How is breathing. How suddenly we can be forced to fight for it.
But Erickson, who luckily won the fight, showed us much more. It showed us the solidarity of the team, a team that, although frustrated, looked for strength and quickly circled around it, hand in hand, to protect their teammate. This showed us the strength of the team, which, at the request of Eriksen, decided to return to the field to play, even on the ground, of course. It showed us humanity: Finnish players retreated in moments of agony and applauded their opponents when the game resumed. He showed us how health professions can be almost legendary. And he showed us the courage and composure of a man who eventually became a hero too.
What about Simon Kjaer, the team captain, who was not only the first to approach Erickson and put him in a safe position? [de lado]as she even ran to Sabrina Quist, Christian Erickson’s partner, who desperately took to the field in search of answers to support her. And from Kasper Schmeichel, who is not a captain, but behaved like a captain. The goalkeeper not only reassured Sabrina – the athlete’s father revealed that Schmeichel ran up to her to tell her that Christian was breathing since she thought he was dead – but he also hugged each teammate before restarting the game, paying particular attention to Matthias Jensen. which had a hard time. Eriksen’s replacement problem.
In the end, Finland might even win. But more importantly, Eriksen won. Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel won. Denmark won. And they all won.
