Euro 2020: It’s hard to convey what this team has been through over the past few weeks, says Denmark coach Kasper Hulmand

What Denmark achieved on Monday in Russia is nothing short of inspiration. Denmark’s key midfielder Christian Eriksen fell on the pitch during the team’s first 1-0 defeat to Finland and had to be resuscitated with a defibrillator.

Denmark’s coach Kasper Hjulmand lauded his team’s stunning progression to the last 16 of the European Championship and said it is just reward for his players, who have stuck to their task following team mate Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest. Erikse has been released from the hospital on Friday.

“What a night. We hoped it would be a magic night,” Hjulmand told reporters. “I can’t imagine how they managed to come back from what they went through, so a big credit to the boys.

Denmark thumped Russia 4-1 in Copenhagen in their final Group B game. Denmark, Russia and Finland all finished with three points but the Danes had the better goal difference. Belgium won the group with nine points, capping it off with a 2-0 win over Finland.

“It is hard to describe what this team has been through the past few weeks, but we are thinking about Christian all the way. The team spirit and how everyone contributed is amazing.

“We played three games on a very high level and our players deserve this,” said Hjulmand.

Hjulmand said he had to stop his players from celebrating prematurely at the final whistle until they knew for sure that Belgium had won, which is why they formed a circle to check the score on a mobile phone in the middle of the pitch.

“The circle was because I thought it would be crazy to run around and celebrate. What if Finland scored two quick goals? So we just needed that result to be confirmed and as soon as it was, we could let go,” he said.

Now a meeting with Wales awaits for Denmark in Amsterdam on Saturday. And a tournament that so nearly began with a tragedy could still turn into a triumph.