The Latest: Denmark again looks to Eriksen for inspiration
The Latest on soccer’s European Championship:
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Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand says the team is looking to Christian Eriksen as an inspiration ahead of the match against the Czech Republic in the European Championship quarterfinals.
Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s opening game of the tournament. Teammates were left shaken after seeing him receive emergency medical treatment on the field.
Hjulmand says “we’ll play with that heart of Christian Eriksen once again.”
The winner will face either England or Ukraine in the semifinals.
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Germany midfielder Toni Kroos says he is retiring from the national team after 106 appearances for his country.
The 31-year-old Kroos says in a podcast that his decision is “irreversible.”
Kroos’ last game was on Tuesday in Germany’s 2-0 loss to England in the round of 16 of the European Championship. The Real Madrid midfielder recovered from the coronavirus in time to take part in the tournament.
Kroos did not say if he had spoken with incoming coach Hansi Flick about staying.
Kroos says “it’s a decision for the family and for me” and adds “I want to be there and needed as a husband and papa.”
Kroos made his Germany debut in March 2010 in a friendly against Argentina. He was a Bayern Munich player on loan at Bayer Leverkusen at the time. He played every minute at the 2014 World Cup when Germany won the title.
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The European Championship quarterfinals are coming with Spain taking on Switzerland and Italy facing Belgium.
The early match will be between three-time champion Spain and a Swiss team playing in the quarterfinals at the tournament for the first time. The match will be played in St. Petersburg.
The late match will be in Munich. Both Italy and Belgium won all three of their group matches before advancing from the round of 16.
Italy won its only European title in 1968. Top-ranked Belgium has never won it but the team finished third at the World Cup three years ago.
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