Euro 2020: Reaction as De Bruyne-inspired Belgium beat Denmark to qualify for last 16

1. Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to commentary
2. Poulsen opens scoring
3. De Bruyne comes off the bench at half time and creates Hazard leveller, before scoring a second
4. First Denmark game since Eriksen had cardiac arrest
5. Fans and players show their support with minute's applause

Belgium have yet to win a major football tournament (sorry 1920 Olympics, I'm not counting you).

This could be one of their best chances.

They top the Fifa world rankings and a lot of their 'golden generation' are around their peak years now.

Belgium can go through tonight

There is, of course, an actual football game to preview today too.

Belgium will be into the last 16 if they win tonight, simple as.

Denmark are bottom of the group after losing to Finland. A defeat tonight won't definitely eliminate them - because some third-placed teams go through - but it would be a big ask.

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'Football not the same if Eriksen not on pitch'

EPA

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez said: "As a team there is a real intention just to show our wishes and thoughts to Christian.

"Our message is football is not the same if Christian Eriksen is not on the football pitch.

"All we want is a full recovery and to see Christian very, very soon on the Danish team and for Inter Milan and everyone in Belgium is joining into those wishes.

"We need to celebrate the quick action from the doctors to make it such a speedy reaction.

"Every player who is going to be on that pitch is going to know the importance [of the game] and what's at stake and the focus will shift quite quickly. But it should be a celebration from everyone."

'They needed counselling'

Denmark women's forward Nadia Nadim to ITV Sport on Christian Eriksen: "My team-mates, everyone, was shocked. We watched the game on a big screen and the Spanish broadcasters didn't cut it off.

"We saw all the live images and a lot of girls were crying, especially one of them who is close friends with Christian Eriksen and they grew up together.

"She was losing it and they needed counselling, as the same as the entire football nation, we were in shock."

'Christian might even be able to hear everything from hospital'

Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand is preparing for an emotional night.

There will be roughly 25,000 fans at the Parken Stadium, the venue where Christian Eriksen had his cardiac arrest on Saturday.

"It will be very emotional to return to the Parken, we expect to have incredible support from our fans and from the whole country.

"We have to be ready for that and use this energy in a positive way.

"What's crazy is that the hospital where Christian is staying is not far from the stadium. He can see the stadium and he might even be able to hear everything that is happening there."

Reuters

A BBC podcast to keep an eye out for tomorrow.

Medical staff have been preparing for the game today.

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'There are not 100 options' - Uefa

Euro 2020 tournament director Martin Kallen says Uefa will look again at the regulations but warned "there are not 100 options".

Denmark's players said they were given the choice of finishing the Finland game less than two hours after Christian Eriksen's collapse - or the next day at noon.

They chose to play that night because they said they would not be able to sleep afterwards anyway.

Kallen says they were also given the choice of playing on Monday.

"Of course we will look after the tournament if there is another solution, but if you look at the tournament calendar there are three days in between, then you need to continue to play," he said.

"At a certain stage [if there is a three-day delay] the tournament has a problem. We are very happy that [Christian Eriksen] is getting better and on the way up with his health."

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Other sportsmen with ICDs

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Daley Blind and Christian Eriksen were Ajax team-mates earlier in their career (pictured with Viktor Fischer)

Netherlands defender Daley Blind, who is in the Dutch squad at Euro 2020, managed to resume his career after having an ICD fitted in February 2020 after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

He is Eriksen's former Ajax team-mate.

But former England cricketer James Taylor had his career ended by heart issues in 2016 - and had an ICD fitted.

"I was really reluctant to have it initially, but once I had a greater understanding of my condition and how it's going to help me, it's my best friend," Taylor told the BBC.

'You can't account for trauma'

Karen Carney

Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

It could go either way. You can't account for trauma, how it hits you or whether it galvanises you.

They all came together afterwards and have been opening up, dealing with it psychologically as a team. They expressed themselves and have been open with each other.

That can bring you closer together, but at the same it can be exhausting as it heightens what happened.

They have only had five days, this could take a long time for them to recover from.

It was horrendous what happened but they are professionals as well and how they came on and played the rest of the game, I don't know how they did it.

So I think they will go out there, they have the fans and a lot of people behind them, and will find a way.

'Yes, I am back with you'

Doctor Jens Kleinfeld, who treated Christian Eriksen on the field, told Funke media group: "About 30 seconds later [after being resuscitated with a defibrillator] he opened his eyes and I could talk to him directly.

"That was a very moving moment, because in such medical emergencies in everyday life, the chances of success are much lower."

Kleinefeld said he asked Eriksen, "Well, are you back with us?"

The doctor said Eriksen answered, "Yes, I am back with you" and, "Damn, I'm only 29 years old".

Kleinefeld added: "That's when I knew the brain wasn't damaged and he had fully returned."

Listen live on the BBC

BBC Radio 5 Live

Commentary of this game is on BBC Radio 5 Live. Hit the top of this page.

'It has galvanised the nation'

Karen Carney

Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

There will be constant reminders of Saturday throughout the game, it's that delay of trauma and it is going to be difficult for the Denmark players.

As a player you heavily rely on your staff but they have gone through it as well.

Then there is Belgium, a lot of their players are or were Eriksen's team-mates.

You've got to somehow park that to one side. It is going to be really tough and just hope when the game gets going they can concentrate on it.

I bet you there are lot of people rooting for Denmark to go well given the way they have conducted themselves.

It has galvanised the nation as well. They are on their home soil and I'm sure everyone will get behind them.

Here are just some of the pictures from Denmark fans as they start to fill into the ground.

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The Danish FA tweeted this message from Christian Eriksen a couple of days ago, saying he was fine under the circumstances.

Eriksen to be fitted with heart-starting device

The news that emerged today is that Christian Eriksen will be fitted with a heart-starting device.

The ICD - implantable cardioverter defibrillator - is "necessary due to rhythm disturbances", Danish team doctor Morten Boesen said.

Eriksen remains in hospital but says he is "fine under the circumstances".

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The British Heart Foundation describes an ICD as a small device which is placed under the skin, is connected to the heart with "thin wires" and "sends electrical pulses to regulate abnormal heart rhythms".

Belgian plan to kick ball out for 10th-minute applause

Belgium intend to kick the ball out of play in the 10th minute to take part in a minute's applause for Christian Eriksen.

Danish fans are planning the applause as a show of support.

"We'll put the ball into touch to applaud," said Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, Eriksen's Inter Milan team-mate.

"Several of our players have played with him. But we'll be there to win the game, which promises to be difficult."

The timing of the tribute has been chosen because Eriksen wears the number 10 shirt for Denmark.

Lukaku, who scored twice in Belgium's 3-0 win over Russia on Saturday, shouted a message of support to Eriksen into a pitchside camera after one of his finishes.

Team news

Denmark make two changes from the side who lost 1-0 to Finland.

Jannik Vestergaard and Mikkel Damsgaard replace Christian Eriksen and Jonas Wind in a bit of a reshuffle.

Denmark: Schmeichel, Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard, Maehle, Wass, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Poulsen, Damsgaard, Braithwaite.

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Kevin de Bruyne is on the bench for Belgium after recovering from a fractured nose and eye socket in the Champions League final.

They make two changes from their 3-0 win over Russia.

Timothy Castagne has a double eye socket fracture and his tournament is over. Thomas Meunier takes his place in the team.

Jason Denayer replaces Dedryck Boyata at the back.

Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen, Meunier, Dendoncker, Tielemans, T Hazard, Mertens, Carrasco, Lukaku.

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Denmark go back to scene of Eriksen collapse

Five days ago Christian Eriksen had a cardiac arrest during Denmark's Euro 2020 game with Finland at Copenhagen's Parken Stadium.

He had to be resuscitated on the pitch with several of Denmark's players in tears and praying.

It was an emotional night which will never be forgotten by anybody who witnessed it.

Thankfully word emerged that Eriksen was awake and stable in hospital.

They finished the game later that evening - with the players still shaken and emotional - and lost 1-0.

The national team are back at the same venue again tonight for their second group game against Belgium.

'We will play for Christian'

Today, we will enter the pitch against Belgium with Christian in our hearts and thoughts. We will play for Christian, and as always for all of Denmark. That is the greatest motivation for us all

Simon KjaerDenmark captain