Christian Eriksen collapsed suddenly after suffering cardiac arrest during Denmark's Euro 2020 opener against Finland at Parken Stadium on June 12, 2021.

Denmark team doctor Morten Boesen, who was among a team of medical professionals who tended to Eriksen on the pitch, explained: "It was a cardiac arrest. He was gone and we did cardiac resuscitation.

"How close were we to losing him? I don't know. We got him back after one defib [defibrillation]. That's quite fast."

It remains unclear as to why this happened to Eriksen, who had played the entirety of his professional career with minimal injuries, performing at the highest level for Ajax, Tottenham and Inter.

"The examinations that have been done so far look fine," Boesens said in the aftermath. "We don't have an explanation to why it happened."

In the 42nd minute of the game against Finland, with no other players near him, Eriksen stumbled and dropped to the ground, where he lay motionless, prompting immediate concern.

A number of Denmark and Finland players, along with referee Anthony Taylor, noticed the severity of the situation and called for medical assistance.

The Danish players formed a shield around their striken team-mate as doctors carried out CPR and attempted to resuscitate him with a defibrillator.

Will Christian Eriksen play football again?
It remains to be seen if Christian Eriksen will play competitive football again after suffering from a cardiac emergency.

On June 17, it was confirmed that he would be fitted with a heart-starting device known as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).

A statement from the Danish football association (DBU) said: "After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter).

"This device is necessary after a cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances.

"Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment."