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Soccer: Christian Eriksen 'feels better' after on-field cardiac arrest

Teammates shielded Christian Eriksen of Denmark as he received medical attention for cardiac arrest during a UEFA Euro 2020 match against Finland on Saturday in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by Wolfgang Rattay/EPA-EFE
Teammates shielded Christian Eriksen of Denmark as he received medical attention for cardiac arrest during a UEFA Euro 2020 match against Finland on Saturday in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo by Wolfgang Rattay/EPA-EFE

June 14 (UPI) -- Christian Eriksen, who collapsed from a cardiac arrest during a soccer game against Finland, "feels better," the Denmark midfielder said through his agent Monday.

"He said 'Thank you. I won't give up,'" Eriksen's agent, Martin Schoots, told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport. "'I feel better now, but I want to understand what's happened.

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"I want to say thank you all for what you did for me.'"

Eriksen, 29, remains hospitalized, but is in stable condition at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.

The star midfielder went down on the field in the 42nd minute of a 1-0 Euro 2020 loss Saturday at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. A teammate threw the ball to Eriksen, who stumbled face-first onto the ground.

Eriksen laid on the ground motionless for about 10 minutes as teammates and the medical staff attempted to revive him.

Team doctor Morten Boesen told reporters Sunday that Eriksen's heart stopped and he thought he was "gone" before he was resuscitated with a defibrillator.

Saturday's match was suspended due to the incident, but resumed about 90 minutes later. Eriksen was named the star of the match.

The Denmark national team said Sunday that team members spoke to Eriksen.

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"The team and staff of the national team has received crisis assistance and will continue to be there for each other after [Saturday]s] incident," the team said in a statement.

Fans for Denmark and Finland chanted Eriksen's name when play resumed Saturday in Copenhagen. Other players from around the world also commented on Eriksen and offered tributes to the midfielder.

Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, Eriksen's Inter Milan teammate, scored twice during Belgium's win over Russia on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Russia. He ran up to a TV camera and said "Chris, I love you," after his first goal.

"It was really tough for me to get my mind together," Lukaku told reporters Saturday. "It's the first time I have been through this as a football player, with a teammate of mine. ... I spend more time with him than my own family.

"I shed a few tears because I was thinking about his family, kids, girlfriend, parents, sister and my team."

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Lukaku and Belgium battle Denmark in another Euro 2020 game at noon EDT Thursday at Parken Stadium.

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