Danish World Cup star dies

John Eriksen, a member of the Danish 1986 FIFA World Cup squad, has died aged 44 after suffering for many years with a rare form of dementia.
 
Crucial goal
Eriksen, nicknames "Danish Dynamite" scored six goals in 17 internationals for Denmark but he will mostly be remembered for his goal against West Germany in the 1986 FIFA World Cup that put his nation into the last 16 in their first-ever appearance at the finals.
 
Golden shoe honour
With over 250 goals in total Eriksen is the highest scoring Dane to ever play outside his native land and he was runner-up in the 1988 Golden Shoe competition when his 36 goals for Swiss side Servette FC was only beaten by Tanju Colak's 39 goals for Galatasaray SK.
 
Dutch adventure
Eriksen began his career with home town club Svendborg before joining Danish giants Odense BK. His well-developed talents as a striker then earned him a contract with Roda JC in the Dutch Eredivisie. Eriksen was the league's leading goalscorer from 1979 to 1981 - form that saw him make his debut for the Danish national side in a 2-1 win against Romania in 1981. He later moved to Feyenoord, French side FC Mulhouse, and then to Switzerland with Servette and FC Luzern.
 
'Super-sub'
Competing with the likes of Michael Laudrup, Allan Simonsen and Preben Elkjær Larsen, it remained difficult for Eriksen throughout his career to become a regular member of Sepp Piontek's chosen eleven despite the steady stream of goals he delivered while playing for Servette. However, as a 'super-sub', Eriksen was an important part of the national squad until he played his last match for Denmark in the defeat against Italy in the 1988 UEFA European Championship in Germany.