Mourning for George Baldock: Greece – when football takes a back seat

Before the Nations League game between England and Greece, sport is not the focus. Greek football is shocked after the sudden death of national player George Baldock – and England is also in mourning.

The terrible news came around 24 hours before kick-off: Twelve-time Greek national soccer player George Baldock is dead. According to the police, the 31-year-old was found lifeless in his swimming pool late on Wednesday evening. The exact background is still unclear, but one thing is already certain: the Greek national team’s Nations League game will not be a game like any other, especially since it takes place in Baldock’s home country of England.

Baldock was born in Buckingham, but his father is from Greece. He played most of his career in England, including seven years for Sheffield United, with whom he was relegated from the Premier League last summer. He then moved to Panathinaikos Athens, where he was in the starting line-up in the 0-0 draw against Olympiacos Piraeus on Sunday. “We are horrified by the loss of George. We stand by his family and loved ones,” Panathinaikos wrote on its website, which was redacted in honor of the defender.

Condolences from England

Baldock’s former club Sheffield expressed its condolences: “Sheffield United is shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the death of our former player, George Baldock. He was well-loved by fans, staff and teammates,” the club said. The English national team also expressed their condolences on social networks, saying that Baldock was close to many English national players, the Three Lions wrote on X.

Baldock was not called up for the duel at Wembley against England due to an injury, reports the Greek television station ERT. He last played for the national team in March in the European Championship playoffs, when Greece lost to Georgia on penalties.

Top game in the Nations League

There will now be a minute’s silence before the game at Wembley, as the Greek Football Association had asked UEFA to do. There’s a lot at stake in terms of sport. The Greeks lead the Nations League Group B2 after wins against Ireland (2:0) and Finland (3:0), even ahead of the English team with the same points. It was the perfect start for new national coach Ivan Jovanovic. A win at Wembley would be Greece’s first ever win against England – and a victory in honor of defender George Baldock.