Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel feels the Danish players were rushed into deciding to resume the game against Finland after Christian Eriksen’s sudden collapse on the pitch.
Schmeichel: Decision Should Not Have Been Made in the Heat of the Moment
Rule Change Was Necessary for ‘Extraordinary’ Circumstances
Speaking after reflection on the traumatic experience of the incident involving Christian Eriksen and his cardiac arrest, Schmeichel feels the options UEFA gave the Danish players should not have been given to them so soon after the game was suspended.
The match was brought to a temporary halt when the ex-Spurs midfielder collapsed to the floor, sparking widespread concern for his welfare from the entire football community.
After a short while, in which he received extensive medical treatment pitchside, Eriksen was awoken, stretchered off the pitch and taken to a nearby hospital.
It was later revealed by Denmark’s head coach Kasper Hjulmand and Schmeichel’s father Peter that UEFA had given the players three options: to continue the game that evening, resume the next day, or to forfeit the game.
Schmeichel was unhappy with the action taken by UEFA in the aftermath of the incident involving Christian Eriksen, saying: “A decision about the game should probably not have been made in the heat of the moment.
“It would probably have been a wise decision to maybe change the rules or the regulations in extraordinary circumstances and maybe take a breath and reconvene the day after and make a decision on how to go forward.”
Hjulmand: You Can’t Play a Game With Such Feelings
The Danish coach joined the long list of people unhappy with UEFA for forcing this decision upon the emotionally distressed players on Saturday.
Speaking about the decision, he said: “We had two options to play the game [today] or tomorrow at 12pm and everyone agreed to play today.
“You can’t play a game with such feelings. We tried to win. It was incredible they managed to go out and try to play the second half.”
He was also extremely proud of how his team dealt with the situation, saying: “We are all reminded what the most important thing in life is and that is to have valuable relations.
“We have a group of players I can’t praise enough. I couldn’t be prouder of these people who take such good care of each other at such a time where one of my very, very dear friends is suffering.”
Schmeichel Admits Denmark’s Next Game Will Be Tough
Following defeat against Finland, the Danes take on Belgium in Copenhagen in their next group fixture on Thursday. Belgium looked sharp in beating Russia in their opening fixture, and will not have faced the emotional trauma Denmark did earlier this week.
On the difficulty of playing the next game, Schmeichel said: “There’s a lot of people that react in very different ways, and we need to try and find a way to get back to normality.
“But I think the real important thing for us is that we know Christian’s ok. From there on, we talked a lot about the spirit that we have in the team, and to be able to fight the way that we’ve done.”
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