Soccer
Midfield star Christian Eriksen scored the next goal for Denmark when he returned to the place of his collapse at the European Football Championship last year. The 30-year-old scored the acclaimed final score in the Danish national team’s 3-0 win over Serbia on Tuesday.
Eriksen led his team onto the field as captain at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium. He was acclaimed by the fans and greeted before kick-off with a placard that read ‘Welcome home Eriksen’. “This evening ranks very, very high. Being back in the park, scoring a goal, that reception – it gives you goosebumps,” he explained. Joakim Maehle (15th) and Jesper Lindström (53rd) had already scored for the Danes before Eriken’s long-range shot (57th), which is well worth seeing.
Eriksen, who was jubilantly substituted in the 80th minute, made his comeback for Denmark in the 4-2 draw against the Netherlands on Saturday and scored the 2-3 goal just two minutes after coming on. The friendly in Amsterdam was his first international match in over nine months. On June 12, 2021, Eriksen collapsed on the grass with cardiac arrest during the European Championship match against Finland. Paramedics saved his life.
Emotional return as captain
It was also thanks to Kasper Schmeichel that Eriksen was able to wear the captain’s armband during the emotional comeback in his home country in front of 35,200 spectators. The co-captain had suggested national coach Kasper Hjulmand that Eriksen lead the team in the absence of the injured Simon Kjaer. Hjulmand agreed. “It’s fantastic to have Christian back. We missed him,” said Schmeichel.
Netherlands brake DFB success run
Under national coach Hansi Flick, Germany was unable to win for the first time, but managed to draw in the World Cup endurance test against the Netherlands. Despite being in the lead, the DFB selection did not go beyond a 1-1 draw against the tenth in the world rankings in Amsterdam.
After Thomas Müller’s 43rd international goal (45+1), David Raum could have increased the lead to 2-0 immediately after the break if he had a big chance. When the Dutch turned up the heat, Germany also needed luck. Shortly after Steven Bergwijn equalized (68′), the English referee Craig Pawson happily took back a penalty kick after video evidence. Thilo Kehrer hit Memphis Depay in the penalty area when trying to clear the foot. In the end, the draw was a happy one from the DFB point of view.
Victories for Italy and top nations
Victories brought the top nations. European champions Italy won 3-2 a few days after the disgrace in the World Cup qualifier in Turkey. World champions France beat South Africa 5-0, also thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbappe. Vice world champions Croatia beat Bulgaria 2-1 in Qatar. Spain beat Iceland 5-0, Belgium defeated Burkina Faso 3-0, as did England over Ivory Coast.
Norway outclassed Armenia 9-0. Joshua King scored three times against the Armenians, who were decimated from the 17th minute, as well as Erling Haaland and Alexander Sörloth twice each.
