Christian Eriksen putting the world on notice after Denmark hat trick

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen is emerging from the shadows following a hat trick in Denmark’s thrashing of Ireland in Tuesday’s playoff.

The football community, for the large part, takes Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen for granted. It’s common knowledge Eriksen can, on a given night, be the best play-maker on the pitch capable of turning a loss into a draw or a draw into a win at the blink of an eye, but he’s rarely the first name that comes to mind when you think of the transformation occurring at Spurs over the past several seasons.

Striker Harry Kane is “one of our own” among the Tottenham faithful and a front man collecting Golden Boot trophies. Dele Alli is a flashy star who, when in form, can hit the likes of Real Madrid for a brace, bag highlight-reel goals off the flick of a boot, and he’s a fresh face featured in advertisements for, among other items, FIFA 18. Manager Mauricio Pochettino is seen as the maestro behind the magic hovering over Spurs in late November.

Unlike with Spurs, Eriksen is able to play the role of the superstar and the savior tasked with carrying his side to glory while featuring for Denmark, and that is precisely what he did in Tuesday’s 5-1 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland that propelled the Danes into the World Cup. Of all of his amazing performances for club and country, the 25-year-old may have saved his best night for when Denmark needed it most.

The phrase “hat-trick hero” does little justice in adequately praising Eriksen’s unmitigated destruction of Ireland’s World Cup dreams. He delivered a pair of world-class finishes, using both feet to locate the back of the net with golazos as if to announce to the world that he has those tricks in his bag, but his third tally of the evening was just as impressive because of the nature of the goal:

https://twitter.com/ProperSport/status/930747278092046336

With the game’s outcome essentially decided 13 minutes from time, Eriksen immediately noticed a poor touch from an opponent left a fat rebound in the heart of the penalty area. His cat-like response and vision for goal was matched by a right-footed rocket perfectly deposited into the corner of the net. Literally no goalkeeper in the world would’ve had even a chance of stopping this strike.

Per Sky Sports, Denmark manager Age Hareide offered high praise of his key man after Tuesday’s win:

"“It’s difficult to rank, but we saw [in Tottenham’s Champions League matches] against Real Madrid he is probably one of the best players in his position in Europe at the moment.”"

Hareide continued:

"“Ronaldo, Messi and some strikers are playing as forwards. Christian is more a wide man or a central midfield player. He has this capability of scoring goals, making assists, finding space, so, definitely top 10.”"

Eriksen can be a frustrating product in the Tottenham XI. While fans may point to his unassuming nature both on and off the pitch for why he sometimes seems to disappear, all would have to admit he’s lacked consistency during his Spurs tenure.