Christian Eriksen has revealed his still hopes to play for Denmark at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
The 29-year-old midfielder has not played professional football since suffering a cardiac arrest during a Euro 2020 match against Finland at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium in June.
Eriksen received life-saving treatment on the pitch for several minutes before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
He was later fitted with a defibrillator but was forced to leave his club side Inter Milan in December due to Serie A rules which would not allow him to play with the device.
Eriksen is now training individually and is eyeing a return to club football in the hope that he can make Denmark’s squad for the World Cup, which begins on November 21.
“My goal is to play in the World Cup in Qatar. I want to play,” Eriksen told Danish outlet DR.
“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.”
In the TV interview, Eriksen revealed that he “died for five minutes” during the incident in June.
Denmark captain Simon Kjaer and the team’s medical staff were later given the 2021 UEFA President's Award for their role in saving Eriksen’s life.
Kjaer put the midfielder in the recovery position and started CPR before the medical team took over.
He then gathered his Denmark team-mates and used them as a shield to keep Eriksen from the view of the media and those in the stadium.
Eriksen has thanked the doctors who saved his life, his team-mates and fans from across the world who sent him flowers and well-wishes during his recovery.
“At the hospital, they kept saying I'd received more and more flowers,” added Eriksen.
“It was weird, because I didn't expect people to send flowers because I'd died for five minutes.
“It was quite extraordinary, but it was very nice of everyone, and it's been a big help to me to receive all those best wishes, and people still write to me.
“I've thanked people I've met in person. I've thanked the doctors, my team-mates and their families in person.
“But all the fans who have sent thousands of letters and emails and flowers, or who have come up to me in the street - both in Italy and Denmark - I thank them all for their support I got all over the world that helped me through this.”
Former Ajax and Tottenham midfielder Eriksen is continuing to train alone but will return to group training later this month, according to reports.
The Daily Mail claim there is strong interest in Eriksen from clubs in Denmark, the Netherlands and England – including teams in the Premier League.
Featured Image Credit: Alamy & DRTopics: Christian Eriksen, Football World Cup, Denmark, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax, Football
Rory O'Callaghan