Denmark's captain, Christian Eriksen, made a triumphant return to the European Championship, three years after his cardiac arrest during the previous tournament. He scored the crucial goal that resulted in a 1-1 draw against Slovenia in their Group C opener on Sunday. The 32-year-old had been absent from his team's journey to the semifinals in 2021 due to his on-field collapse in the initial match against Finland. On Sunday, Eriksen quickly moved past the traumatic event, playing his first Euro match since the incident. He delivered a masterful performance, particularly in the dominant Danish first half, setting a brisk pace as directed by coach Kasper Hjulmand, who deployed two forwards. Eriksen was instrumental in almost all set pieces and scored in the 17th minute, giving Denmark the lead. This performance effectively silenced his critics. Had his teammates been more precise, Eriksen might have added to his assist tally. Just months ago, such a scenario seemed improbable. Thomas Gravesen, a former Denmark and Real Madrid player, had harshly criticized Eriksen, stating, 'The Christian Eriksen we all know, he is no longer there. Christian Eriksen doesn't play football anymore.' Coming off a lackluster season with Manchester United, where he saw limited playing time under coach Eric ten Haag, Eriksen's form was not ideal for a major tournament. Despite skepticism from some fans and pundits, Hjulmand maintained faith in Eriksen, believing him to be a valuable asset. On Sunday, Eriksen proved his worth, maintaining high performance levels throughout the match, despite the Danish defense eventually faltering under Slovenian pressure and conceding an equalizer. His efforts earned him the man-of-the-match award on his memorable Euro comeback.