Soccer-Dutch team shocked by Eriksen collapse, coach De Boer says

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Netherlands Press Conference - KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands - June 12, 2021 Netherlands coach Frank de Boer during the press conference UEFA/Handout via REUTERS

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Netherlands team and staff were shocked by the collapse of Denmark playmaker Christian Eriksen on Saturday, but were ready to take on Ukraine in their Euro 2020 opener on Sunday, Dutch coach Frank de Boer said shortly before kickoff.

"Everybody was shocked", De Boer told Dutch TV. "These are images nobody ever wants to see. And it brings back terrible memories," De Boer said, referring to his own players Daley Blind and Matthijs de Ligt.