By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Nothing indicated this Sunday afternoon that Christian Eriksen, three years ago, was floating between life and death.
Denmark's football icon was everywhere on the pitch in the Stuttgart arena during the European Championship Group C opener against Euro newcomer Slovenia.
Corners and free kicks were his job. Pushing the game and giving it structure was on him. Scoring goals, the 32-year-old seemed to take care of everything, leading his side to a 1-1 draw and scoring their goal.
For good reason, the Dane was awarded UEFA Player of the Match.
June 12, 2021, and the nine months of absence due to intense treatment and surgery seemed far away. That day, the midfielder collapsed in a Euro 2021 encounter against Finland in Copenhagen.
Teammates formed a protective circle around him, many were crying, while the medical staff's efforts to save his life after a heart attack led to a happy ending.
Over nine months of therapy followed while the footballer had to live with an implanted defibrillator, allowing him to return to professional football. Having to leave his club, Inter, at that time due to national regulations in Italy appeared to be the smallest problem in those days.
A fight back to what he loved most, football, took him to a new life.
The game against Slovenia proved Eriksen's qualities, Denmark's national coach Kasper Hjulmand emphasized. Fans filled the Stuttgart arena with chants of "Eriksen, Eriksen."
Hjulmand praised the five-time "Danish Footballer of the Year" as "our heart, our leader, our rhythm."
So, 1,100 days after the fatal incident, Eriksen faced Slovenia with challenging games against the Three Lions and Serbia following for the Scandinavians.
He takes every minute as a gift in his "second life," he said.
"You learn what counts in life. Life is sometimes telling you this story. It was a very special goal for me, despite it not taking us to three points," he added.
Eriksen spoke about his faith in his team and his regained skills. "I have played many games since then, but to return to a Euro tournament makes things very special. Club games are important and daily routine, but a major like this is unique."
The 1-1 draw might affect Eriksen, as he felt disappointed having failed to secure the victory. "As a sportsman, you are always disappointed to not cross the finish line with three points."
But as a father and husband, he might see things differently. "Life," he said, "is about doing things you love." ■
