Holland 4-2 Denmark: Christian Eriksen scores on his international return

Less than two minutes it took him. The brutal truth? The last time Christian Eriksen played for Denmark, he was dead for longer than that. 

He was gone that evening last June. Supporters prayed, they wept as Eriksen’s life evaporated before our eyes. For three or four minutes – the lost minutes, he calls them – his heart stopped. For 287 days we wondered when – or if – we would see Eriksen in Denmark colours once more. 

And then, after half-time on Saturday night, the 1,000 Danes who travelled for this friendly with Holland waited only 114 seconds to find out: Eriksen is back all right. 

Christian Eriksen scored with his first touch just 114 seconds after coming on as a substitute

All of the trauma and all of those harrowing scenes will not be erased with one sweep of his right boot.

But perhaps Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand put it best when he described this past year as ‘a horror film, but also a fairytale.’

How else to explain what happened in Copenhagen and here last night?

Disbelief and delirium swept through the Johan Cruyff Arena after Andreas Skov Olsen cut the ball back and, from 12 yards, Eriksen curled it into the top corner. 

Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn opened the scoring with a header after 16 minutes

Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn opened the scoring with a header after 16 minutes

The playmaker had said it felt like he’d never been away. That might explain how he so seamlessly stepped back to the future.

‘He’s back and has the best football in front of him,’ Hjulmand claimed afterwards.

The only mark of change? That implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) designed to ensure memories like these are all Eriksen will leave now.

Perhaps only fate could decide, too, that Eriksen should be here to close that new chapter and re-open the old. Back in red and white, back at the ground where, for Ajax, his genius first captured hearts and minds.

Normality will reign again –Hjulmand said – after Tuesday’s friendly with Serbia at Parken, where Eriksen first stumbled. Where he woke up and wondered: ‘Have I broken my back?’ 

Where he was whisked into an ambulance and, on the three-minute drive to Rigshospitalet, told medics: ‘Keep my boots, I won’t need them.’

How wrong he was. Eriksen remembers everything, ‘except those minutes when I was in heaven.’ Anyone here on Saturday night will do well to shed this memory. 

Jannik Vestergaard rose highest to meet Joakim Maehle's cross to equalise for Denmark

Jannik Vestergaard rose highest to meet Joakim Maehle’s cross to equalise for Denmark

Nathan Ake got his third Holland goal and continued the night's theme of scoring with a header

Nathan Ake got his third Holland goal and continued the night’s theme of scoring with a header

Coronavirus briefly delayed Eriksen’s return before Hjulmand made everyone wait a little longer by leaving him on the bench.

Nothing, though, could cloud the air of renewal in Amsterdam.

Cheers went up when Eriksen was welcomed by the stadium announcer, and when the teams were read out. 

Big screens carried his picture and the message: ‘Welcome Back.’ The 30-year-old was embraced by Holland coach Danny Blind, whose son Daley wears a defibrillator. He set up Steven Bergwijn’s opener once a football match broke out and, with Denmark trailing 3-1 at half-time, Eriksen emerged for his final preparations.

Hjulmand had hoped to hold him back a little longer. But Denmark’s display forced his hand. So, after passing on some tactical instructions? ‘I looked him in the eyes, he looked at me. And I said: ‘Enjoy it, welcome back.’ 

Memphis Depay put Holland two goals up with a calm penalty on the stroke of half-time

Memphis Depay put Holland two goals up with a calm penalty on the stroke of half-time

This whole place roared as Eriksen waited to replace Jesper Lindstrom. And when the substitution was read out in English. And when it was announced in Dutch. And when, with one of his first touches back in international football, Eriksen netted Denmark goal No 37. 

None of those Holland players who applauded him on to the pitch tracked his run. Nothing but the woodwork could stop his delightful effort from distance later, either.On the scoreboard, as Holland eventually cantered to a 4-2 victory, Eriksen made little dent.

On the soul of those here last night, he branded yet another mark. ‘I will remember this night,’ Hjulmand said. So will everyone.

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