Denmark and Belgium paused play after 10 minutes of their Euro 2020 clash to applaud stricken Christian Eriksen.
The Inter midfielder was given CPR on the pitch during the first half of Denmark’s Group B opener with Finland last Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Eriksen remains in hospital in Copenhagen and assured fans on Tuesday that he is “fine – under the circumstances” as he continues to be monitored.
Denmark were in action on Thursday for the first time since that shocking incident and opponents Belgium wanted to celebrate Eriksen’s survival and improved health.
Romelu Lukaku revealed ahead of the match at Parken Stadium that the Red Devils intended to bring the game to a halt after 10 minutes – 10 being Eriksen’s shirt number.
Lukaku plays at Inter alongside Eriksen and appeared emotional as the players turned their thoughts towards Eriksen.
Both sets of players stopped the game for a minute as they and supporters inside the ground clapped in unison in an emotional tribute.
— DBU – En Del Af Noget Større (@DBUfodbold) June 17, 2021
Denmark held a 1-0 lead at that point in the match thanks to Yussuf Poulsen’s goal after just 99 seconds – the second-quickest in European Championship history.
The Danish Football Union announced earlier on Thursday that Eriksen will be fitted with an implant to help regulate his heart rhythm in future.
Specialists recommended he be fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a device that uses electrical pulses to regulate potentially dangerous heart rhythms.
