Copenhagen (AFP)

Five days after the cardiac arrest of Christian Eriksen, Denmark wants to play for him: relieved to see their teammate alive, the Danes will try to return to football on Thursday at the Euro against Belgium (6 p.m.), with the hope to do him honor.

Faced with the big favorite of group B, who made a success of his debut by outclassing Russia (3-0), the Danes will have to manage their emotions to erase their inaugural defeat against Finland ... admittedly conceded in a very particular context (1 -0).

How to have your head in football when your partner and friend has just collapsed in the middle of a game, victim of a cardiac arrest, before being resuscitated on the lawn by the rescue teams?

Denmark were clearly not on their plate on Saturday night when the game, interrupted for nearly two hours after Eriksen's discomfort, resumed to come to an end at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

But the Danes have promised to get up and "play for Christian", according to the wish expressed by the midfielder of Inter Milan from his room in the hospital, located very close to the enclosure.

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"It will be very emotional to return to the Parken, we expect to have incredible support from our supporters and from the whole country," Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"We have to be ready for that and use this energy in a positive way," added the technician.

- Psychological support -

The discomfort of Christian Eriksen, 29, will undoubtedly remain as one of the strong images of this Euro: transferred to hospital, his condition has improved since then.

"I'm fine despite the circumstances," he wrote in a post on his Instagram account on Tuesday.

According to the Danish Federation (DBU), supporters expected a cheering through the stadium in the 10th minute of play on Thursday, an allusion to the N.10 that Eriksen wears in the selection, as well as a banner for him.

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It remains to be seen if this sacred union around Eriksen will give an extra soul to a team now deprived of its master to play.

"We know it will be hard, especially since Christian, our best player, the heart of this team, is irreplaceable," said the coach.

So as not to be overwhelmed by the emotion Thursday, Hjulmand offered the possibility to the players to go to the stadium Wednesday evening, while leaving them the choice to go there or not.

"We do not know how we will react, because no one has been confronted with what we have experienced (Saturday), everyone will have a different way of dealing with what happened", explained the attacking Yussuf Poulsen.

Moreover, since Eriksen's heart failure, the Danish players and staff have received the support of a team of psychologists: "In groups or individually, it has done us good," assured the coach.

- Belgium aims for qualification -

In sporting terms, the "Rod-Hvide" (the Red and White) are already under pressure after the unexpected loss to the Finnish "Owls".

Even if a defeat would not eliminate them, it would greatly jeopardize their chances of reaching the knockout stages before a last poster in their den against Russia.

On the Belgian side, the Red Devils will win their ticket for the knockout phase if successful Thursday.

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This could allow coach Roberto Martinez to blow some executives in the last game against Finland and give playing time to others lacking rhythm, such as Eden Hazard, Axel Witsel or Kevin De Bruyne, who could enter. in play from Thursday in Copenhagen.

But the emotion will also be strong on the side of Belgium, of which several players are close to Eriksen, like Romelu Lukaku.

"I received a message from Christian telling me he's fine," his Inter teammate told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Tomorrow I'll send him a little message before the game."

The Belgian had already addressed him from the field during his double Saturday against the Russians.

On behalf of Christian Eriksen.

© 2021 AFP