Former Inter Milan midfielder, Christian Eriksen has said he is looking forward to representing Denmark national team in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar despite his heart condition.
Recall that the 29-year-old attacking midfielder has not played football since June 2021 after he collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 group opener against Finland.
After the incident, he was rushed to the hospital where it was confirmed that he suffered a cardiac arrest and had to undergo surgery. He had to be fitted with a heart-starting device (ICD) afterward.
The fact that a heart-starting device had to be implanted in him forced him and Inter Milan to end the contract between them because it is against the health regulation of Italy for footballers to play with a device implanted in them.
Currently, Christian Eriksen is without a club and has returned to his home country where he is hoping that he would get a new club in this January transfer window.
While waiting for a new club, Eriksen told Danish channel DR1 that his goal is to play in the forthcoming FIFA World Cup even though he has not played in any competitive game since June 2021.
He stressed that he has returned to full fitness and is ready to return to football, adding that his heart is not an obstacle. The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder also stressed that he is ready to prove that he is capable of playing for the national team.
Christian Eriksen said: “My goal is to play in the World Cup in Qatar. I want to play. That’s been my mindset all along.
“It’s a goal, a dream, whether I’ll be picked is another thing. But it’s my dream to come back.
“I’m sure I can come back because I don’t feel any different. Physically, I’m back in top shape.
“That’s been my goal, and it’s still some time away, so until then I’m just going to play football and prove that I’m back at the same level.
“My dream is to rejoin the national team and play at Parken again, and prove that it was a one-timer and that it won’t happen again. I want to prove that I can move on and play for the national team again.
“Again, it’s up to the manager to assess my level. But my heart is not an obstacle.”
Looking forward to the future 🇩🇰🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/sIZsBPWNgH
— Christian Eriksen (@ChrisEriksen8) January 4, 2022
Christian Eriksen started his professional football career at Ajax Amsterdam where he played 163 times, scored 32 games, and provided 65 assists before he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
While at Tottenham, the Denmark star made 305 appearances in all competitions in which he scored 69 goals and provided 90 assists before he left the club in 2020.
Before he suffered the cardiac arrest in 2021, Eriksen made 60 appearances for Inter Milan in which he scored 8 goals and provided three assists.
