Quite a symbol. One thousand one hundred days after his terrible heart attack during the first Danish match of Euro 2021, Christian Eriksen was the author of his team’s opening goal this Sunday against Slovenia. A shot which left no chance for the very good Oblak, on a throw-in intelligently played by the “Danish dynamite”. Wind deviated in the race of Manchester United’s attacking midfielder, who left Elsnik behind to, it was thought at that time, put his team on the path to a first success in this Euro (0-1, 17th ).
We have to go back to June 12, 2021 to understand the full scope of this goal. That day, against Finland, Christian Eriksen collapsed after 42 minutes in the national stadium in Copenhagen, suffering from cardiac arrest. Cardiac massage and the use of the defibrillator saved him. The installation of a subcutaneous defibrillator even allows him to return to high-level sport; then to return to the national team in March 2022. The leader of this selection was part of the 2022 World Cup, but was unable to make an impact, without scoring or delivering an assist, going through a first round synonymous with elimination in anonymity, like his team.
gullThis goal is a beautiful moment; we wanted to score from a set point… but so did Slovenia.
With this goal, there will be no question of anonymity for Euro 2024. Unfortunately for him, it was not enough for the Danes to achieve a highly hoped-for victory against what seems to be the least complicated opponent in the group. VS. “This goal made me happyexplains the man who was elected man of the match. It was a beautiful moment. We said to ourselves that we were going to try to score from a standstill, and we did… but so did Slovenia, unfortunately, which destroyed our good start.”
Eriksen will have tried quite a bit, however. In addition to being the conductor of his team – 7 of his passes allowed a teammate to shoot; 11.5 km covered – the 32-year-old left-hander played the role of offensive threat almost single-handedly, while Rasmus Hojlund was too discreet (see below).
Three more occasions
Eriksen created three more good scoring chances. First in the 40th minute, but he hung around too long to prevent Janza from blocking his shot; then in the 43rd, but his recovery in one step, this time, flew away. He also tried to do the throw-in again in the second half, again with Wind, but his shot missed this time (68th).
It was Janza who had the final word, to offer Slovenia a point that they did not steal (1-1, 77th). Despite Eriksen, Denmark, who should have widened the gap before the Slovenian awakening, disappointed. He will have to do more against England on Thursday.
Slovenia : Oblak ; Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza; Stojanovic (67th, Verbic), G. Cerin, Eslnik (76th, Celar), Mlakar (76th, Goren-Stankovic); Sporar (95th, Brekalo), Sesko (95th, Kurtic).
Denmark : Schmeichel ; Christensen, Andersen, Vestegaard; Bah, Hjulmand (89th, Delaney), Eriksen, Hojbjerg (84th, Norgaard), Kristiansen (78th, Maehle); Wind (83rd, Dolberg), Hojlund (83rd, Poulsen).
Arbitrator : Sandro Schärer (Sui)
Warnings : Hjulmand, Stojanovic, Celar.
The goals : 17th Eriksen (0-1, assist: Wind), 77th Janza (1-1)
The Top and Flop of the match
The Top: Erik Janza 7/10. Great performance from the left back of the modest Slovenian club Gornik Zabrze. Since he had the audacity to attempt the shot from distance, luck smiled on him with this deflection from Hjulmand on the 1-1. He also created two Slovenian chances, including this free kick where Sporar placed wide (74th). Defensively, good work: 1 blocked shot, 2 interceptions, 2 cleared balls, 2 recoveries.
The Flop: Rasmus Hojlund 4/10. Much was expected of the young Manchester United striker, but he did not cause enough difficulty for the Slovenian defense. Ten minutes before the 1-1, he had a golden ball of 0-2, but he did not know how to pull off the little dive that would have beaten Oblak, who also came out very well at the time.
