Christian Eriksson’s absence makes it much more tough to neglect what occurred to him.
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmund discovered his thoughts wandering from the match on Saturday whereas his crew performed within the European Championship quarter-finals.
“I thought about him during the game and after the game,” Hjulmand mentioned by way of a translator after their 2-1 win over the Czech Republic.
“I maintain pondering how fantastic it might be to see him play (within the subsequent match). He remains to be an enormous a part of the crew and an enormous a part of our path to Wembley.”
Denmark has reached the semi-finals for the primary time in 29 years – the longest semi-final margin within the historical past of the competitors.#euro2020 pic.twitter.com/xCUbk7ovWG
— UEFA Euro 2020 (@Euro2020) 3 July 2021
Ericsson survived a cardiac arrest throughout Denmark’s Euro 2020 match three weeks in the past, and the emotional euphoria that adopted propelled the crew – all the best way to the semi-finals – at Wembley Stadium.
The Danes subsequent face England in London on Wednesday.
“He has always been a very important part of the team and he still is,” Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney mentioned by way of an interpreter.
“Of course we carry him in our hearts. He should have been here. It’s still something we’re struggling with, but making him proud is something that makes me happy.”
On June 12, Ericsson went face to face within the first half of the match towards Finland. His teammates constructed a wall round him as medical staff revived him with defibrillators. He spent per week within the hospital earlier than going dwelling to get well.
The crew’s subsequent match will happen in a stadium that Ericsson is aware of properly. The dwelling of the England nationwide crew additionally served as Tottenham’s short-term dwelling for a part of Ericsson’s seven years on the London membership.
And in October, Ericsson scored Denmark’s solely purpose at Wembley in a 1–0 victory over England within the Nations League.
“That team is not something we have built overnight,” Hazulmand mentioned.
“He has been part of the crew for a very long time. I consider him on a regular basis, I want he was right here and I’m sending him numerous good needs and he’s an enormous a part of the result.
Denmark misplaced to Finland within the opening match of Euro 2020, after which misplaced one other towards Belgium. The Danes nonetheless managed to advance after beating Russia of their ultimate group match, helped by the truth that Belgium remained undefeated of their three matches.
Ericsson, who now performs for Inter Milan, was launched from hospital forward of the match towards Russia and went to go to his teammates as quickly as he was dismissed.
Since then he has been sending messages of help on social media and is in contact with the crew in personal.
.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
