World rocked as Christian Eriksen collapses during Euro 2020 match

The football world has rallied around Denmark's Christian Eriksen after the midfielder collapsed on the pitch during the first half of his country's Euro 2020 opener against Finland.

The Finns claimed a shock 1-0 victory but the match was overshadowed by the terrifying incident that saw Eriksen rushed to hospital.

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Play was suspended after Eriksen collapsed towards the end of the first half of what was Finland's first ever appearance at a major tournament.

He was given CPR by medics as his teammates formed a ring around him, before he was carried off on a stretcher and both teams left the pitch.

The game was stopped for one hour and 45 minutes but resumed after the Danish Football Association announced that Eriksen was awake and stable in hospital.

Both sets of players told football's European governing body UEFA they wanted to continue, despite the grim scenes out on the pitch.

Players formed a barrier around Eriksen as he was urgently treated by medical staff, with players and fans in tears at the distressing scenes unfolding.

Eriksen’s partner Sabrina Kvist Jensen eventually made her way onto the pitch where she was consoled by Danish captain Simon Kjaer and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The horror incident left players from both teams in a state of devastation and disbelief, with the football world praying for Eriksen's wellbeing.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin praised the unity displayed by the football world at such a devastating time and wished Eriksen a speedy recovery.

“Moments like this put everything in life into perspective,” Ceferin said in a statement.

“I wish Christian a full and speedy recovery and pray his family has strength and faith.

“At these times, the unity of the football family is so strong and he and his family carry with them the good wishes and prayers of everyone.

“I heard of fans of both teams chanting his name. Football is beautiful and Christian plays it beautifully.”

Eriksen stable in hospital

Denmark team doctor Martin Boesen revealed in his post-match press conference that Eriksen's pulse had stopped at one point.

“We were called on the pitch when Christian fell down, I didn’t see myself but it was pretty clear he was unconscious,” Boesen said.

“When I get to him, he’s on his side. He is breathing and I can see pulse but suddenly that changes, and as everyone saw we started giving him CPR.

“The help came really, really fast from the medical team and the rest of the staff, and with their co-operation we did what we did to do. We managed to get Christian back.”

Denmark dominated the match before and after the traumatic incident, but Finland striker Joel Pohjanpalo headed home the winner on the hour with his side's only attempt of the game.

"Of course it was hard for us to go to the pitch, and I can only imagine how hard it was for Denmark," scorer Pohjanpalo told Finnish broadcaster YLE.

"A great victory for us, but the foremost thing on our minds is Christian's condition."

The hosts had 22 efforts but could not make them count, including a tame penalty from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that was saved by Lukas Hradecky with 16 minutes remaining.

In the day's early match, Kieffer Moore scored a headed equaliser from a rare chance as surprise 2016 semi-finalists Wales snatched a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Group A.

Lively forward Breel Embolo had put dominant Switzerland ahead at the Baku Olympic Stadium when he showed impressive strength to out-muscle defender Connor Roberts from a corner shortly after halftime.

with agencies

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