Finland dealt a blow to a 1-0 Euro 2020 win over Denmark in their first major tournament on Saturday after the match was postponed after Danish midfielder Christian Eriksson required emergency medical treatment on the pitch.
Midfielder Ericsson, 29, collapsed at the end of the first half and was given CPR as his teammates formed a ring around him, before being carried on a stretcher and both teams left the pitch.
Play was halted for an hour and 45 minutes, but the Danish Football Association announced that Ericsson was awake and stable in hospital, and both sets of players told football's European governing body UEFA that they were to continue. want.
The players returned to the pitch and went through their practice drills a second time but the Danes were clearly affected by the trauma of Ericsson's fall, wiping away some tears and several hugs being exchanged.
UEFA said Ericsson had been stabilized, and the Danish football federation said he was awake.
"Christian Eriksson is awake and further examinations are underway at Rigshospitalet," the Danish Federation wrote on Twitter.
Peter Möller, director of the Danish Football Federation, said Ericsson received a "heart massage" during treatment on the field.
"He fell and got help and a heart massage on the field," Möller told Danish public broadcaster DR. "He was fortunately awake when he left the stadium."
The game resumed and the last five minutes of the first half were played. Halftime was shortened to five minutes before play resumed, as the match was dominated by Denmark.
The Finns suffered stage fright in their first appearance in the final of a major tournament, on the back five to try to overcome Denmark's complicated passing and rely on winning a free kick to gain some breathing space. fell down.
However, Finland striker Joel Pohjanpalo popped up before celebrating in a restrained fashion at the edge of the field with his side's only attempt of the game to lead the winner in time to run the game, where Ericsson had fallen.
Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen won a penalty in the 73rd minute for a minor contact fall and midfielder Pierre mile Hjberg stepped up to pick up a spot kick, but Lukas Herdecky came down a clever save.
In all, the hosts had 22 attempts to score but could not count them as Heradeki and his defense heroically kept them out till the final whistle.
As the Danes trampled down the field frustratedly, Finnish players celebrated with their ardent fans, but ultimately it was a night when football didn't matter as Ericsson was treated at a hospital about a kilometer away.
"Of course it was tough for us to get on the pitch, and I can only imagine how tough it was for Denmark. A big win for us, but the most important thing on our mind is Christian's position," scorer Pohjanpalo told the Finnish broadcaster. Told YLE. .
Speaking after the game, Morten Bosen, the Danish team doctor who came out to treat Ericsson, explained what happened.
"I want to start by saying that I've spoken with Christian's family. I'm not going to go into detail right now. I want to say what we've seen," Bossen said. "We were called to the pitch. When Christian fell. I didn't see it myself, but it was pretty obvious that he was unconscious. When I go to him, he is by his side. He is breathing and I can feel his pulse, but suddenly he changes. And as everyone noticed, we started giving him CPR."
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmund said he was "very impressed" after the match.
"I was involved in a similar situation as a coach where we almost lost someone on the field, and I can feel it meant something, and now I see how everyone reaches out to their family. and tries FaceTiming," Hazulmand said. "So a situation like this happens. It's been a tough night to go out like this. All our thoughts and prayers are with Christian and his family right now. Christian is one of our best players, one of the best players out there." There is one, and he's an even better person. So, all my thoughts and all my positive energy goes to Christians."