Without its midfielder Christian Eriksen, victim of a heart attack in the middle of a match on Saturday, Denmark must find the resources against Belgium on Thursday (6 p.m.) in an already crucial match for qualifying for the knockout stages of Euro 2020 .
The news is good on the side of Christian Eriksen, victim of serious discomfort during Denmark's first match at Euro 2020 against Finland (0-1).
The Danes will have to draw from this miracle all the resources necessary to continue the European adventure, where they face Belgium on Thursday, the big favorite in the title (18 hours).
An already crucial match for Eriksen's partners: with a defeat on the first day, the Danish team are in danger in Group B.
>> Subscribe to our newsletter on the Euro to not miss any of the competition
Eriksen's support
Tired but smiling face: Christian Eriksen wanted to reassure his supporters by posting a first photo from his hospital bed, three days after his still unexplained discomfort.
Rescued after a heart massage, he regained consciousness before being transported to hospital, where he is still being treated.
"I'm fine despite the circumstances," he wrote in a post on his Instagram account on Tuesday.
The Danish Football Association has been silent on the state of his midfielder's health, saying he is "stable" but ignoring questions about his prospects of returning to the pitch.
>> Listen to Europe 1 Football Club in replay and podcast here
Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand said that Eriksen watched the last ten minutes of Denmark-Finland from the hospital and was in daily contact with the team, which reassures the Red and Whites two days before their duel against the dreaded Belgium, world number one in the FIFA rankings.
"We can focus more and more on football and prepare for the match," assured the manager, admitting, however, not knowing if all the players would be confident to play the game on Thursday.
An "irreplaceable" player
"We will prepare as much as possible but it will be loaded with emotions. We should use those emotions for the game and be ready to fight," he said.
As to who will play in place of Eriksen, the question has been brushed aside by the coach.
"Nobody can replace Christian. Nobody. It is not possible. He is the best player on the ball (...) he is the heart of the team," said Hjulmand.
"Together, we will do something else (...) and we will have a very strong team on the ground," he promised, saying they would be "very hard to beat".
But if the selection is made up of "real warriors", they have been subjected to pressure from UEFA to resume the match, he lamented at a press conference.