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COPENHAGEN - European football governing body UEFA has invited Denmark international Christian Eriksen and the paramedics who helped save his life during an on-field cardiac arrest to attend the Euro 2020 final at Wembley on Sunday.
The brilliant Danish midfielder was resuscitated in front of shocked fans and a massive global TV audience during his nation's first match of the tournament.
UEFA said Eriksen, his partner and six medics were invited to the final, but there was no confirmation he would attend. One of the paramedics, Peder Ersgaard, said he was honored to receive a VIP invite from UEFA boss Aleksander Čeferin.
"I'm excited, like a child on Christmas Eve," he told the Fagbladet FOA magazine. "I'm very proud of my efforts, but also of the whole team. It wasn't a one-man effort."
Eriksen, 29, collapsed on the Parken Stadium field in the first half against Finland, his eyes staring blank into a TV camera. CPR was administered and his heart was restarted with a defibrillator as players shielded the medics.
He is now recovering at home. Eriksen's agent could not immediately be reached by phone.
Initially traumatized but then inspired by the emotion over Eriksen's plight, Denmark have stormed into the semifinals and play England on Wednesday for a place in the final. Italy play Spain in the other semifinal on Tuesday.
"I hope to see Denmark against Italy. That would be really, really big. Just imagine if they become European champions," Ersgaard added.
(Reporting by Tim Barsoe; Editing by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Andrew Cawthorne)
