DENMARK have been beaten by Finland in a match where football was of secondary importance.
The match had been stopped after Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field just before half time, receiving CPR shortly afterwards.
To the relief of the crowd, Eriksen woke up in hospital and is in stable condition.
And a number of reports suggested Eriksen himself had requested the players continue rather than carrying on on Sunday at 12pm.
Once the game got back underway, Finland came away with the points with a header from Joel Pohjanpalo.
The Danes had the chance to rescue the match but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg rolled the penalty to the Finland goalkeeper as they were beaten on an emotional evening.
Meanwhile in the other Euro 2020 Group B game, Inter team-mate Romelu Lukaku dedicated his opening goal to Eriksen as Belgium beat Russia 3-0.
He leaned over to the TV camera and said “Chris, I love you”.
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ERIKSEN UPDATE
Inter Milan have claimed that they are optimistic about Christian Eriksen’s condition.
GAME ON
England’s match with Croatia is set to go ahead tomorrow as Gareth Southgate’s players sent their “best wishes” to Christian Eriksen.
Three Lions captain Harry Kane, who is close friends with former Spurs team-mate Eriksen, tonight tweeted: “Chris. I’m sending all my love to you and your family. Stay strong mate.”
An FA spokesman said there was “no suggestion” England’s opening Group D clash tomorrow at Wembley would be postponed.
Eriksen is now “awake” and “stable” after being rushed to hospital from the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Danish football association the DBU said.
The Inter Milan ace is awaiting more medical tests, but reportedly FaceTimed his team-mates from hospital as he told them to finish their Euro 2020 opener after his distressing collapse.
UNITED IN CARE
Finland fans handed over their team flags to shield stricken Christian Eriksen as the football world united in concern for the Denmark star.
The Inter Milan midfielder, 29, was later “stable” and “awake” in hospital after receiving CPR in the Euro 2020 game.
JOEL ON HIS GOAL
Finland goalscorer Joel Pohjanpalo gave his verdict on today’s game.
He told Finnish broadcaster YLE: “Of course it was hard for us to go to the pitch, and I can only imagine how hard it was for Denmark.
“A great victory for us, but the foremost thing on our minds is Christian’s condition.”
MORE FROM HJULMAND
The Denmark head coach admitted his side were mentally drained following the restart to the game.
He said: “First of all, if it gets emotional, it’s been a tough night. We are all reminded of what the most important thing in life is – to have valuable relationships, people we’re close to, our family and our friends.
“We have a group of players that I cannot praise enough. I couldn’t be prouder of those people who took such good care of each other.
“He is one of my very dear friends, the way the players talked in the dressing room to decide to not do anything before we knew Christian was conscious and OK.
“We had two options to play the game [today] or tomorrow at 12pm and everyone agreed to play today.
“You can’t play a game with such feelings. We tried to win. It was incredible they managed to go out and try to play the second half.
“Honestly, there were players out there that were completely done. Emotionally done and emotionally exhausted.”
‘MORE IMPORTANT THINGS’
Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand was understandably very emotional at the post-match news conference.
He said: “It was a really tough evening, on which we’ve all been reminded what the most important things in life are.
“It’s meaningful relationships. It’s those people who are close to us. It’s family and friends.
“Everything, everything, everything – all thoughts are with Christian and his family.”
TOUCHING TRIBUTE
UEFA have confirmed that Christian Eriksen has been given the man of the match award following today’s game.
MORE FROM FABREGAS
When the news came through that Eriksen was alive and responsive, there was a wave of joy in relief.
Then came the extraordinary further revelation that the players of Denmark and Finland were prepared to return to the pitch.
Again Fabregas proved as eloquent off the field as he once was on it.
Asked by Lineker if he was surprised by the game’s resumption, Fabregas said: “Yes, I am, because today is not a day to play a hero’s game.
“It’s a moment to realise how grateful we are. If it’s their decision, then spot on for them.
“Well done if they are strong enough mentally to cope with it.
“It’s difficult for me to understand how they did it because the images we saw were very very sad.
“But fair play to them.”
FAB WORK
SunSport’s Dan King writes: “Cesc Fabregas made his name finding the right pass.
“Today the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Spain star came up with the right words as football tried to come to terms with Christian Eriksen’s shocking collapse.
“When the BBC cut back to the studio from the appalling images at the Parken Stadion in Copenhagen, Fabregas put into words what everyone was feeling.
He said: “How many times do I go home and I am upset? And I ate with my family, with my loved ones.
“And you realise it’s just a game. And we need to enjoy it every second and have passion for it but really there are things that don’t matter anymore.
“More important is health, try to be always happy, enjoy what you have in life, how blessed we are, and that’s it.
“This is a big shock and a reminder for all of us.”
THOUGHTS FROM SOUTGATE
The England boss has passed on the team’s “very best wishes to Christian and those close to him.”
STATEMENT FROM LINEKER
The BBC host has given his full-time thoughts on Twitter after covering today’s match between Denmark and Finland.
PAYING RESPECTS
Joel Pohjanpalo refused to celebrate out of respect for Christian Eriksen earlier despite scoring Finland’s first goal at a major men’s tournament.
Credit: AP LUKAKU’S MESSAGE
Elsewhere, Belgium’s game against Russia went ahead as scheduled and Romelu Lukaku gave an emotional shoutout to Christian Eriksen.
The forward dedicated his goal to his Inter Milan teammate after scoring his country’s first strike of Euro 2020.
FT: DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
Finland have won their first ever win in a major men’s tournament and they have done so at the expense of their Scandinavian rivals.
But the match will forever be remembered for the horrible incident surrounding Christian Eriksen in the first-half.
Thankfully the Inter Milan star seems to be on the mend but an incredible effort from Denmark to finish the match.
Joel Pohjanpalo’s header ultimately proved to be the matchwinner on a night when the result will prove secondary.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had a huge chance to equalise from the penalty spot but saw his side-footed effort saved by Lukas Hradecky.
FT: DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
AND THAT’S THE WHISTLE!!!! HUGE WIN FOR THE VISITORS
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
93′ – Denmark fans howl for another penalty as Cornelius hits the deck.
But Anthony Taylor awards a free-kick to Finland after the ball hits the striker’s arm.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
90′ – Four minutes of stoppage time for the hosts to rescue a point.
Vestergaard has gone up front for Denmark and he’s proving a nuisance knocking down long balls.
Elsewhere, Vaisanen has come on for Raitala.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
85′ – More nervous goalkeeping from Hradecky as he flaps at a cross from Stryger on the right but Poulson is a split-second slow to react.
Raitala manages to get his foot to the loose ball to hack clear for Finland but he seems to have injured himself in the process as he stays down.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
84′ – Brentford’s Marcus Forss is sent on in place of Pohjanpalo – who stands to be the match winners if it stays like this.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
81′ – Jensen makes a darting run into the box but his cross into the six-yard box is attempting to find Vestergaard.
But Lod brilliantly gets in front of the Southampton defender trying to turn it home.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
80′- BIG CHANCE!! VESTERGAARD!
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
75′ – Changes from both sides…
Wass and Delaney off for Denmark while Stryger and Cornelius are on.
Finland: Sparv off, Schuller on. Pukki off, Kauko on.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
This was the moment Hojbjerg saw his penalty saved by Hradecky.
Credit: Getty DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
Denmark mentally have been through a marathon today and Hojbjerg looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Hard to criticise the Spurs ace but it was a timid run up followed by a weak side-footed effort that was read and easily gathered by Hradecky.
DENMARK 0 FINLAND 1
73′ – SAVE!!! DENMARK FAIL TO GET ON LEVEL TERMS
HOJBJERG WITH A TERRIBLE PENALTY
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
