On Thursday, the Euro 2020 match between Belgium and Denmark was called off in the 10th minute as a tribute to Christian Eriksen.
Ericsson, 29, suffered a heart attack in the 42nd minute of Denmark's first match against Finland last Saturday and is hospitalised. Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmund said Ericsson watched the match from a hospital located just 500 meters from Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Denmark, who had lost the match 2–1, took the lead after two minutes, when Yusuf Poulsen, sparking an emotional celebration inside the stadium, made a clinical finish, and the match was stopped eight minutes later. Given. Both the players, coaching staff and supporters played a minute of applause for the midfielder at the stadium.
A banner was also displayed among fans in a stand that read: "All Denmark is with you, Christian."
Before kickoff, a large flag of Denmark the size of a shirt with Ericsson's name on its back was hoisted on the pitch. Ericsson wears the No. 10 shirt for his country.
Ericsson's Inter Milan teammate Romelu Lukaku said in a press conference before the match that the Belgian would "kick the ball for a throw-in and appreciate and mark the moment."
Lukaku sent his best wishes to Ericsson in Belgium's 3-0 win over Russia when he scored the opening goal and ran to the pitchside camera and said: "Chris, Chris, I love you."
And after Thursday's match, Lukaku praised the Danish team, saying they "saved my friend's life."
"I respect him as men. He saved my friend's life and I appreciate it. His character today was incredible. I had to put my feelings aside in the first half, because I was thinking of Christian Was. Denmark must continue to believe. It and get the job done against Russia," he said.
🔟❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/CipLxnESul
— DBU - En Del Af Noget Større (@DBUfodbold) June 17, 2021
Denmark have zero points in the first two games, but they still have a chance to reach the knockout stage. They would need a win in their final group game against Russia and a favorable result in the second group match between Belgium and Finland. Hazulmand said on Thursday that his side are keen to ensure that they prolong their stay in the tournament.
"With Christian in our mind and our hearts, we know he is still here, we know it is going to be a tough few weeks for you Christian, we are here for you," Hazulmand told a media Said at the conference.
"We are going to be together and we will beat the Russians, we are not in this competition."
Striker Martin Braithwaite said Ericsson congratulated the team when they returned to the dressing room, despite their loss to Belgium.
"He sent us a message in the WhatsApp group. I think he said we were really cool, I didn't have time to look, but when we got into the dressing room there was a message," Braithwaite said.
Several teams have paid tribute to Ericsson during the tournament. Before their 1-0 loss against Russia on Wednesday, Finnish players wore T-shirts during practice that read "Get well Christian!" It was written while Austria's Michael Gregoritz and Stefan Lanner held up a T-shirt that read: "Eriksson Stay Strong" after scoring in their opener against North Macedonia.
Ericsson, in its first official communication since the collapse, gave an update on its situation on Monday, saying: "Hello everyone, many thanks for your sweet and wonderful greetings and messages from around the world. It's so much to me and my family." It matters.
"I am fine - under the circumstances. I still have to go through some exams in the hospital, but I feel fine. Now, I will cheer the boys of the Denmark team in the next matches. Play for the whole of Denmark. Best, Christian."
Meanwhile, the Danish Football Association has asked UEFA to change its procedures following Ericsson's collapse and subsequent decision to restart the game.
The players were given a chance to resume the match on the same evening or at 12 noon. CEST (6 a.m. ET) the next day at noon.
The match resumed and Denmark lost 1–0 to Finland, but Hjölmund and his players have since stated that they would prefer not to play.
UEFA has come in for sharp criticism from Danish legends Peter Schmeichel and Michael Laudrup, with the latter saying a restart on Saturday or Sunday was not an option at all.