Denmark coach Brian Riemer opens up about Christian Eriksen’s collapse
Denmark’s manager Brian Riemer spoke emotionally about Christian Eriksen’s collapse on the field during the friendly match against Ukraine, calling it a “really shocking experience for everyone.”
On Sunday afternoon at Nature Energy Park in Odense, Eriksen suddenly fell in the second half. He received treatment for about 13 minutes before standing up again. Shortly after, the referee stopped the match with around 75 minutes played. Eriksen was conscious when he was taken away by ambulance, with his wife Sabrina by his side.
Denmark’s team doctor, Morten Boesen—who helped save Eriksen’s life during a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020—said Eriksen’s pacemaker worked correctly during the incident. After his collapse at Euro 2020, Eriksen had a device implanted to help control his heart when needed. Boesen shared that Eriksen was briefly unconscious but quickly regained consciousness and is now having more tests to find out what caused this.
In an interview after the game was stopped, Riemer shared his thoughts. “It was a really shocking moment for everyone. The most important thing was hearing from Dr. Boesen that Christian is okay, which was great to hear,” he said.
Riemer also recalled the moments before Eriksen collapsed. “Christian waved to his teammates as he left the field. A few minutes earlier, he had a rough moment with Ruslan Malinovskyi, and I thought that was why he looked upset, but I was wrong. After that, none of us could continue playing.”
Riemer added, “I’m looking forward to seeing him soon. I want to talk to him because he means a lot to me. Some players you become close to, and Christian is one of those. We’ve worked together with the national team, so I know him very well. This hits me deeply.”
After the match was stopped, players from both teams came together to show support for Eriksen.
Former Tottenham player Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg also shared his feelings. “The most important thing is that Christian and his family are okay. We went to the dressing room to talk and process what happened. Everyone reacts differently, and that’s okay. It’s strange because it brings back memories. The medical team did an amazing job, and everyone showed respect—the players and fans alike. Given the situation, it ended as well as it could. We are all very thankful for that. It was a shock, but Christian’s wellbeing is what matters most. I want to see my family now.”
Denmark was leading 2-1 when Eriksen collapsed. Goals came from Patrick Dorgu and Joakim Maehle for Denmark, and Viktor Tsygankov scored for Ukraine just before halftime.