In a match filled with emotion and drama, Greece secured a historic 2-1 victory over England at Wembley Stadium, dedicating the win to their late teammate George Baldock.
The result sent shockwaves through the football world as Greece overcame the Euro 2020 finalists in a Nations League clash.
Despite the grief from Baldock's tragic passing earlier this week, Greece delivered an exceptional performance, scoring five times—though three goals were disallowed—while securing a crucial win that left them alone at the top of their Nations League group. Vangelis Pavlidis was the hero of the night, netting twice, once in the 49th minute and again in the fourth minute of stoppage time, to seal a famous win.
The match began with a crucial save by Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who denied a close-range effort from Jude Bellingham.
Then, in the 11th minute, a rare double blunder from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford gave Greece a golden opportunity. Pickford ventured out of his area but failed to clear the ball, allowing Greece’s Tasos Bakasetas to steal possession and take a shot, only for Levi Colwill to clear off the line. From the resulting corner, Greece thought they had taken the lead when Dimitris Mavropanos headed in, but he was flagged offside.
England missed a key chance in the 23rd minute when Cole Palmer, after receiving a perfect pass from Bellingham, fired wide from a promising position.
Despite England's pressure, Greece remained composed, building their attacks from deep and withstanding the hosts' advances, including capitalizing on Pickford’s earlier error.
The game’s pivotal moment came in the 49th minute. Pavlidis received the ball from Konstantinos Koulierakis inside the box, surrounded by four England defenders.
With clever footwork and feints, Pavlidis danced past his markers and slotted the ball into the corner, sending Greece into the lead with their first-ever goal at Wembley.
In a powerful tribute, the Greek players rushed to the bench and raised a jersey with Baldock's name, earning applause even from England fans.
As England pushed forward for an equalizer, Ollie Watkins squandered a golden chance in the 61st minute, failing to capitalize on his first touch of the game.
The pressure mounted on Greece, but they held firm, with Pavlidis having a second goal disallowed for offside in the 83rd minute.
Just minutes later, Bellingham finally brought England level with a superb long-range shot from the edge of the area, making it 1-1 in the 86th minute. Though a draw would have been considered a remarkable result for Greece, they continued to press for more.
Their persistence paid off in the dying moments of the match.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Pavlidis took advantage of confusion in England’s box and fired a diagonal shot past Pickford, securing Greece’s biggest victory in the past two decades. The win, earned under emotionally charged circumstances, was a fitting tribute to Baldock’s memory and an unforgettable night for Greek football.
Greece now sits atop their Nations League group, celebrating a historic result that will be remembered for years to come.