Eriksen says he "died for five minutes" in emotional thank you message to fans

Christian Eriksen has thanked football fans all over the world for the support that has been shown to him since his horrific collapse at Euro 2020, where he says he "died for five minutes" on the pitch.

The Denmark star suffered a cardiac arrest during his side's game with Finland in Copenhagen, an incident which led to harrowing scenes as medics sought to revive him in front of scared fans.

Eriksen's Denmark teammates all stood around the then Inter Milan midfielder as he was treated, while his distraught wife Sabrina came onto the pitch and was comforted by players Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel.

Thankfully Eriksen was revived and then taken to hospital, with the match even resuming as Finland won a subdued game 1-0.

The former Tottenham star was then sent many messages of support as he recovered, and he says that helped him enormously.

"It was amazing that so many people felt a need to write or send flowers," he told Danish broadcaster DR.

"It had an impact on so many people, and they felt a need to let me and my family know. That makes me very happy.

"At the hospital, they kept saying I'd received more and more flowers.

"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 teammates and their families in person.

"But all the fans who've sent thousands of letters and emails and flowers, or who've come up to me on the street both in Italy and Denmark, I thank them all for the support I got from all over the world that helped me through this."

Eriksen's Danish teammates managed to go on an impressive run in the tournament in his absence, reaching the semi-finals before they lost to England.

The 29-year-old has now been fitted with a special device that he hopes will enable him to return to playing, although he has had his contract with Inter Milan cancelled.

His agent Martin Schoots is hopeful that he will soon find a new club though, with a return to England a possibility.

"Playing in England again would absolutely feel like coming home for Chris and his family," he told BBC Sport.

"Christian has been treated exceptionally well by the British public, not only because of his top football skills, but also because of his human values, his modesty and altruism."