A conversation about Denmark: "We are so scared"

Ms. Engberg, how did you experience the atmosphere when Christian Eriksen collapsed a week ago during the Denmark-Finland game?

It all started well.

It was a nice summer evening.

We live just 500 meters from the stadium and the fans walk right past our window in Østerbro.

We were all friends with each other, we are all like this after these one and a half years of Corona.

Just being together is so nice.

And then?

We heard how it was going over in the stadium, heard the calls, the applause - and suddenly it was dead silent.

We didn't see the game, we heard it.

We thought: what's going on?

Then we got the terrible news.

I am not interested in football.

But it wasn't about football.

It was about something else.

Everyone was touched.

We saw the fans again after the game.

It was very calm and serious.

They were still walking side by side;

a Danish and a Finnish fan arm in arm.

The game was no longer of interest - we were there together, experienced something traumatic: there was no longer any hostility towards fans.

That was really nice.

How was it on Sunday, a day later?

Everyone has spoken and written about it.

All.

It was a very special mood.

I had the feeling that we were proud of this team - who instinctively sensed in such a crisis situation what we need, what we have to do, what is right - and what is completely unimportant.

You couldn't expect that from such young men.

You are exposed to a lot of stress and a lot of pressure - it's all about victories, trophies, careers.

But none of that was important.

That made me feel confident.

Yes, the world may end tomorrow, once again - but the next generation has good values.

I found that beautiful and hopeful.

Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand said how proud he is of his players.

It wasn't about football anymore.

It's about values.

Football is about millions and billions, of course, but there is also the story of solidarity and workers' sport, of the fact that football is for everyone and everyone can go there. In the stadium are rich and poor for 90 minutes the same - okay, I know, in all honesty is not that, but it is

so.

There is compassion and humanity.

You saw that.

We always need that.

But right now we need it more than ever.

We've had a year and a half with no human connection.

I myself had a long period of feeling lonely - lonely in the world.

I have a family, I am privileged, but I had lost the sense of belonging.

That said, right now, more than ever, we need to feel that there is a connection between people.

We got that on Saturday and Sunday.

Even if it was tragic.

Was it easier with such a sad event than with a happy one?

Access to feelings is more direct when something sad or scary happens.

When it gets dangerous or sad, it shows what we are made of.

The audience was calm, respectful.

You took care.

That had dignity.

Tak Danmark, it said in German texts, because the players had shown what it was really about.

I do believe that people in Germany are quickly ready to see Denmark positively. We also have our downsides. That we are capable of fair play, compassion and compassion can be true because we have built a very solid safety net in society - really. That's why we pay so much taxes and complain about it. Nobody is on the street with us. We wouldn't accept that at all. That will not do. Everyone has to come along. Danish society is no better than its weakest. Sports, soccer, may be important. But people are always in the foreground - and that’s why we’re not going to be the biggest sports nation in the world! When we take our children to the sports club and they say, oh mom, I don't feel like it today, we say: okay, stay at home. This means,we may not have that determination on the football field - there are disadvantages to that too.