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Christian Eriksen scores in Denmark's 3-0 win over Serbia in first game at Parken Stadium since cardiac arrest

Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen's goal was his 38th for Denmark

Christian Eriksen called it a "lovely feeling" as he scored and captained Denmark to a 3-0 win over over Serbia at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium - where he suffered a cardiac arrest last year.

Eriksen collapsed on the same pitch during Denmark's Euro 2020 opener with Finland in June.

There were emotional scenes on the Brentford midfielder's return.

"It's not the final chapter, it's just the beginning of the football career that continues," said the 30-year-old.

"It was a bit of a break for a few months, now it's getting the football back on track.

"It was the first time being captain and walking out here, I've been captain before, but not here. To walk out at the national stadium as captain for the first time was special.

"To lead the lads out was very emotional and something I can be proud of. It was a lovely feeling."

Joakim Maehle and Jesper Lindstrom also scored for Denmark as Eriksen grabbed his country's third with a fine strike from 22 yards in the 57th minute in the friendly victory.

Parken Stadium
Danish fans held up a banner before the game that said 'Welcome back Christian'

'Welcome back Christian'

Eriksen was back at the venue where he nearly lost his life 290 days ago.

In the first half of that match against Finland, and with no players around him, Eriksen collapsed having suffered cardiac arrest.

Team-mates and medics rushed to help him before he was revived and taken to hospital, with Eriksen later saying he had "died for five minutes".

He was subsequently fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) - a type of pacemaker - so he could continue his career.

However, he had to leave his club Inter Milan as players with an ICD device are not allowed to play in Italy's Serie A, before the former Tottenham midfielder returned to the Premier League with Brentford.

He came on and scored during Denmark's 4-2 defeat by Netherlands on Saturday and was greeted by a rousing reception from the Danish fans in Copenhagen on Tuesday with a banner reading 'Welcome back Christian'.

Eriksen was involved in the build-up to Denmark's first goal as his left-wing corner was only partially headed clear with Maehle firing low into the net from 25 yards.

Lindstrom added a second when free in the penalty area early in the second half, before Eriksen gave the fans the moment they wanted by scoring a well-taken goal four minutes later.

Eriksen, who could feature for Denmark in the World Cup in Qatar later this year, received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 79th minute.

Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen applauded the fans at Parken Stadium before the match
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen was named Denmark captain for the game
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen scored Denmark's third goal in the 57th minute

Line-ups

Denmark

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Schmeichel
  • 13Kristensen
  • 2AndersenSubstituted forNelssonat 67'minutes
  • 3Vestergaard
  • 5Maehle
  • 10EriksenSubstituted forBillingat 80'minutes
  • 15Nørgaard
  • 23HøjbjergSubstituted forJensenat 67'minutes
  • 11Skov OlsenSubstituted forMaxsøat 80'minutes
  • 12DolbergSubstituted forCorneliusat 56'minutes
  • 18LindstrømSubstituted forBruun Larsenat 57'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Nelsson
  • 6Maxsø
  • 7Jensen
  • 8Nielsen
  • 9Bruun Larsen
  • 14Bah
  • 16Iversen
  • 17Billing
  • 19Wind
  • 20Pedersen
  • 21Cornelius
  • 22Rønnow

Serbia

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 12Rajkovic
  • 4Milenkovic
  • 6VeljkovicSubstituted forNastasicat 45'minutes
  • 2PavlovicSubstituted forMitrovicat 73'minutes
  • 14ZivkovicSubstituted forRadonjicat 45'minutes
  • 16LukicSubstituted forJovicat 45'minutesSubstituted forRacicat 79'minutes
  • 8Gudelj
  • 17Kostic
  • 10Tadic
  • 20S Milinkovic-Savic
  • 9MitrovicSubstituted forGrujicat 62'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Dmitrovic
  • 3Mladenovic
  • 5Nastasic
  • 7Radonjic
  • 11Jovic
  • 13Mitrovic
  • 18Grujic
  • 19Ristic
  • 21Racic
  • 22Terzic
  • 23V Milinkovic-Savic
Referee:
Felix Zwayer
Attendance:
35,010

Match Stats

Home TeamDenmarkAway TeamSerbia
Possession
Home47%
Away53%
Shots
Home12
Away14
Shots on Target
Home5
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away9
Fouls
Home6
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Denmark 3, Serbia 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Denmark 3, Serbia 0.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Nemanja Radonjic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a corner.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Jannik Vestergaard.

  5. Post update

    Attempt missed. Uros Racic (Serbia) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Victor Nelsson.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Philip Billing.

  8. Post update

    Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Rasmus Kristensen.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Kasper Schmeichel.

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. Filip Kostic (Serbia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Dusan Tadic.

  11. Post update

    Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  12. Post update

    Foul by Andreas Cornelius (Denmark).

  13. Post update

    Attempt missed. Uros Racic (Serbia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

  14. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Rasmus Kristensen (Denmark) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked.

  15. Post update

    Corner, Denmark. Conceded by Marko Grujic.

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Denmark. Philip Billing replaces Christian Eriksen.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Denmark. Andreas Maxsø replaces Andreas Skov Olsen.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Matija Nastasic with a headed pass following a corner.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Serbia. Uros Racic replaces Luka Jovic.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Rasmus Kristensen.

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