Daley Blind said he considered not playing in the Netherlands’ Euro 2020 opener after seeing his former Ajax teammate and friend Christian Eriksen collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark on Saturday.
Former Manchester United defender Blind admitted he had to ‘overcome a big hurdle’ to take the field against Ukraine having also being affected by heart issues himself.
Blind has been fitted with an implanted defibrillator after being diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation.
Blind, who left the pitch in tears following Holland’s 3-2 win over Ukraine, told Dutch broadcaster NOS: ‘Yesterday had a huge impact on me.