There are moments in football that remind you the game is just a game, and what happened to Christian Eriksen on Sunday was one of them. The Denmark midfielder collapsed during their Euro 2020 group stage match against Finland, and for a while the world held its breath. The scenes were distressing, the uncertainty was awful, and for once nobody really cared about the scoreline.
The good news, and it really is good news, is that Eriksen has since confirmed he is doing well and is back at home with his family. He posted a message saying he felt fine and wanted to thank people for the incredible support he had received. Given what everyone witnessed on that pitch in Copenhagen, just hearing those words from him is a massive relief.
Eriksen has always been one of those players that even rival fans genuinely like. There is no edge to him, no nastiness, just a quietly brilliant footballer who glides around the pitch making everything look easy. His time at Tottenham made him a Premier League fans favourite for years, and his move to Inter Milan only added to his reputation. As a United fan you always kept a wary eye on him when he played against your team, because he was exactly the sort of player who could hurt you without you even noticing him doing it.
The football community rallied together brilliantly in the aftermath of his collapse, with fans, players and clubs from all over the world sending messages of support. It was one of those rare moments where the tribalism disappears and everyone is just human beings worrying about another human being.
The medical staff on the pitch deserve enormous credit too. Their response was fast, professional and almost certainly life saving. They are the real heroes of this story.
Everyone at footballpickr.com wishes Christian a full and speedy recovery. Football can wait. His health and his family are all that matter right now.
Let me know your thoughts.