Copenhagen (AFP)

After the dread of the drama grazed by Christian Eriksen, Denmark finds the lawn of Copenhagen against Belgium (18:00) Thursday, which can already ensure its qualification for the knockout stages of the Euro, like the Netherlands or the Austria, opposed in Amsterdam (9:00 p.m.).

If the Italians are the first to have composted their ticket for the eighth, after their second 3-0, against Switzerland on Wednesday night, the Danes have many other thoughts than qualifying.

But to try to finally start their Euro on a happier note, they will play for their teammate, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Saturday in the middle of a match, which moved the whole planet.

If Eriksen is still hospitalized, he is already thinking about football and the fate of his team after his inaugural defeat against Finland (1-0).

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"I'm fine", and "now I'm going to support guys (...) play for Denmark", he wrote on his Instagram account, caption of a photo showing him smiling and a thumbs-up on his hospital bed.

"It will be very emotional to return to the Parken, we expect to have incredible support from our supporters and from the whole country," said Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand, who wants "to use this energy in a way positive ".

- Tribute to the 10th minute -

"What's crazy is that the hospital where Christian is is not far from the stadium, he can see the stadium and it is even possible that he can hear everything that is happening in the stadium", added the manager who expects his star player to watch "the game on TV with his (Denmark) jersey on his shoulders".

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Eriksen's teammates, very tried, will have a lot to do against the formidable Belgium, which corrected Russia (3-0) and will be qualified in case of victory.

Indeed with six points, a team is guaranteed to finish at the worst among the four best third, since the third of groups A and E, whatever they are, will not be able to total six points.

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, Eriksen's partner at Inter Milan, also had a thought for his friend.

"I received a message from Christian telling me that he is fine", delivered the Belgian who planned to put the ball in touch in the 10th minute of the match, with reference to the Dane's jersey number, so that the stadium pays homage to him by applauding him.

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Like Belgium, the Netherlands or Austria can also secure their place in the round of 16, if there is a winner in Amsterdam.

- Controversy in the Netherlands -

In Group C, the two meetings pitted the winners and the losers of the first day against each other.

In the Netherlands, the controversy rages against the 3-5-2 system of coach Franck De Boer, a sacrilege in the country of 4-3-3 sanctified by Johann Cruyff.

But the "Oranje" started with a great victory against Ukraine (3-2).

In Austria, the controversy revolved around Marko Arnautovic, suspended for this match for insulting Ezgjan Alioski during the success against North Macedonia (3-1), Austria's very first in a Euro.

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But it is the sacred union around the turbulent striker.

"He had to put up with a few bad words from the opposing players and maybe he let himself be provoked," said Austrian captain David Alaba.

"Emotionally, he reacted this way. He made a mistake," added the new Real Madrid player.

Defeated by the Netherlands, Andriy Shevchenko's Ukraine hopes to revive against North Macedonia, defeated by Austria.

But the teammates of Goran Pandev, scorer for the very first match of the Balkan selection in a major competition, also want to believe it.

With the four best third qualifiers, nothing is lost, but if there is a loser in this match, he will be really far from the knockout stages ...

© 2021 AFP