Greece star performs heartwarming tribute to George Baldock after scoring vs England

Greece star Vangelis Pavlidis paid tribute to George Baldock with his goal against England (Image: X/ITV Football)

England were stunned into silence at Wembley after going behind to Greece in their UEFA Nations League fixture, as their goalscorer paid an emotional tribute to the late George Baldock.

Vangelis Pavlidis handed the visitors a deserved lead on 49 minutes when he weaved through the England defence and slotted underneath Jordan Pickford.

It provided a brief moment of respite from the pain they had suffered following the shock news that Baldock had passed away at the age of 31 on Wednesday.

Related articles Reason England and Greece stars are wearing black armbands - Everything we know Wembley pays George Baldock tribute at England vs Greece after his tragic death

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— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 10, 2024

The goal sparked pandemonium in the away end as over 4,000 Greece fans celebrated wildly after watching their side score their first-ever goal at Wembley.

And his Greece team-mates, who had been left devastated by Baldock's death, were determined to pay tribute to their fallen team-mate.

Pavlidis gathered his team-mates in the corner and slipped off his black armband, which every player had been wearing as a tribute to the former Sheffield United player.

Vangelis Pavlidis holds aloft his black armband in tribute to George Baldock (Image: Getty)

The striker held it aloft his head and pointed to it, producing a touching roar of approval from the Greece fans. Pavlidis then thought he had added a second goal of the night on 83 minutes, but the offside flag came to England's rescue for a third time on the night.

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It represented an emotional night for the away side, with the squad left emotionally drained and 'devastated' upon hearing the news of Baldock's death. The England-born Greece international was found unresponsive by police in a swimming pool at his home in Glyfada, southern Athens, on Wednesday night.

England struggled to find their rhythm against the fired-up Greece side, who played with their hearts on their sleeve. But Jude Bellingham struck from distance to equalise late on. But Ivan Jovanovic's men wouldn't be denied a deserved victory, as Pavlidis struck in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win.

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Wembley paid tribute to George Baldock before the England vs Greece match (Image: Getty)

The Greek Football Association (EPO) had reportedly submitted a request for the game to be postponed. However, UEFA were reported to have denied the request as there would be no other time to play the fixture on the international calendar.

Instead, the game went ahead and a period of silence was organised before kick-off by the players, staff and fans in the stands at Wembley before the game got underway.

But the mood inside the 90,000-seater stadium was understandably sombre as it had been less than a day since Baldock's death had been confirmed.

After a painful 24 hours, Greece finally had something to celebrate after securing a stunning victory on English soil.

Greece star performs heartwarming tribute to George Baldock after scoring vs England

Greece star performs heartwarming tribute to George Baldock after scoring vs England

Greece star performs heartwarming tribute to George Baldock after scoring vs England

Greece star performs heartwarming tribute to George Baldock after scoring vs England

Greece star performs heartwarming tribute to George Baldock after scoring vs England