Daley Blind Had Considered Not To Play Because Of The Eriksen Incident: I Couldn't Sleep

Daley Blind (Instagram @blindaley)

JAKARTA - Dutch defender Daley Blind had considered not playing in his country's first match at Euro 2020 after a heart attack hit his former clubmate, Christian Eriksen.

But Blind - who had a similar problem last year - finally decided to come on and shed tears after being substituted halfway through the second half of his side's 3-2 win over Ukraine in Group C on Monday.

"Yesterday had a big impact on me, not to mention because I know Christian well as a friend", Blind said regarding the drama in Copenhagen where Eriksen fell on the pitch during Denmark's match against Finland due to a heart attack.

"His situation is terrible. Of course, I've also experienced a few things in that area, so I had to overcome a mental blow to play today", said the 31-year-old who was diagnosed with an inflamed heart muscle in 2019 while playing for Ajax Amsterdam in a match of Champions League against Valencia.

He was fitted with a pacemaker that treats dangerously abnormal heart rhythms but failed while he was playing in a friendly last August and he collapsed again.

"I had to convince myself to play but I'm proud I did and that's why my emotions exploded at the end of the game", he told reporters.

"I really thought about not taking part. The television broadcasts and the incident had a big impact and I couldn't sleep well because of it all".

The news that Eriksen had regained consciousness and was speaking again in the hospital relieved him.

"If it doesn't go well, it will haunt my head more and more. When Christian advised his teammates to keep playing that's when I decided to play. Also because according to the doctor, I was safe", said Blind.