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Matthijs de Ligt said he “got goosebumps” when Christian Eriksen took to the pitch during Saturday’s friendly between the Netherlands and Denmark.
Eriksen had not played for his country since suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch in Copenhagen during Euro 2020 last year.
Yet the former Tottenham and Inter playmaker, who is now back in action with Brentford, returned after a 287-day absence and scored with his very first touch just 114 seconds after coming on as a substitute.
Eriksen, fittingly playing at the stadium where he made his name for Ajax, almost netted a second when a long-range shot hit the woodwork but, with his goal having reduced the arrears to 3-2, it was the hosts who went on to edge out a thrilling contest 4-2 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
For Dutch centre-back De Ligt, however, playing against the 30-year-old was difficult. Nevertheless, the Juventus defender is thrilled to see the Dane back.
“It’s not easy to tackle Eriksen, when he came on the pitch I had the skin go… I got goosebumps,” De Ligt told reporters.
“We are players but also human beings, in those moments you have to think about playing, but it’s clear that we are all happy that he is back playing at this level.”
Eriksen did not create a chance for Kasper Hjulmand’s side, but did put in a joint team-high three crosses (all from set-pieces) and completed 31 of his 36 attempted passes.
