It might not have been enough to secure an opening win for Denmark in their Euro 2024 group-stage clash with Slovenia. But it certainly will have had Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate sitting up and taking notice ahead of England’s matchday two match-up with the Scandinavian’s on Thursday night.
Kyle Walker played alongside Eriksen at Tottenham Hotspur, a reunion expected in Frankfurt this evening. And while the 32-year-old playmaker may not be quite the same creative force of his Spurs days, you won’t find the Man City right-back taking the threat Eriksen poses lightly.
Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen shines at Euro 2024
“I think that you have to give (Denmark) the level of respect that they deserve,” Walker tells The Independent. “Obviously, they’ve got a number of players in the Premier League.
“I played a number of years with Christian Eriksen at Tottenham. And, in some moments, he can produce magic on the drop of the hat.
“We go into the game fully focused and wanting the three points as we did the other night and hopefully we can play a little bit better in the second-half (vs Serbia) and hopefully the nerves have gone a little bit.”
Three years on from the cardiac arrest which had the whole of Europe praying for his good health, Eriksen returned to the tournament stage with a goal which epitomised his enduring class and quality.
There. is areason why Rasmus Hojlund – his United and Denmark team-mate – labels Eriksen ‘world-class’.
And Walker is delighted to see the former Ajax, Brentford and Inter Milan man playing at the very top level again, not long after his career – not to mention his life – was in serious danger.
“He’s fantastic. It is a testament to him,” adds Walker, who was part of the Man City side beaten by Eriken’s United in last month’s FA Cup final.
“Obviously, us both playing in Manchester for the different clubs, we do bump into each other from time to time and have a catch up.
Leave a Reply