COPENHAGEN: christian Eriksen has been discharged from hospital after undergoing surgery to implant ‘stop/start’ heart device.

Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s 1-0 defeat by Finland in Copenhan on Saturday and taken to hospital after being resuscitated with check compressions and a defibrillator on the pitch.

The 29-year-old was then advised to accept the fitting of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) similar to that which helps support Dutch player Daley Blind.

The Danish federation said Eriksen had visited his teammates on Friday after leaving the hospital in Copenhagen and will now go home to spend time with his family. Denmark lost its second group match 2-1 against Belgium on Thursday.

In a message to fans Eriksen said: “Thank you for the massive number of greetings. It has been incredible to see and feel.

“The operation went well, and I am doing well under the circumstances. It was really great to see the guys again after the fantastic game they played last night.

“No need to say, that I will be cheering on them on Monday against Russia.”

Belgian and Danish players halted Thursday’s match to observe a minute’s applause in an emotional mark of respect for Eriksen.

On Wednesday, players from Finland and Russia wore “Get well Christian!” T-shirts as they warmed up for their game, which Russia went on to win 1-0.

Denmark must beat Russia on Monday and needs other results to go its way in order to progress into Euro 2020’s knockout stages.

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