It was on Wednesday that the Greek state news agency ANA reported that Baldock had been found dead in a pool at his home in the Athens suburb of Glyfada. A death that has shocked the football world.
In a joint statement, the Greek national team players said, according to BBC:
"It's impossible to believe that our dear friend and teammate George is no longer with us. Our pain is indescribable."
Baldock was born in England but had Greek roots and therefore played for the Greek national team. And on Thursday - just a day after the death - the nations met in the Nations League at Wembley. A match that Greece did not want to play. The Greek Football Federation tried to get the match postponed, but the European Football Federation (Uefa) did not agree, as there was no room in the calendar, according to BBC. The players were said to be "devastated" and could hardly sleep after the tragic death.
Decided in extra time
At Wembley, the match began with a minute's silence, and both teams played with black armbands. Before the match, the Greek players held up Baldock's jersey with the number two on the back.
Then they pulled off a major upset
The visitors took the lead 1-0 after a goal in the beginning of the second half from Vangelis Pavlidis. After the goal, the players gathered and lifted Baldock's jersey towards the London sky.
Pavlidis later seemed to make it 2-0, but the goal was disallowed for offside. With two minutes left of regular time, Jude Bellingham instead equalized 1-1.
The last goal of the match? Not quite.
For Pavlidis would have the final say. In extra time, he scored 2-1 for Greece. A sensational victory for Greece, who had never before beaten England or scored a goal at Wembley.
We've been thinking a lot about him since we found out yesterday. It's a tough time for us because George was part of the team, says Pavlidis to AFP.
He adds:
We gave everything for him.
Became 31 years old
George Baldock is primarily remembered for his time in Sheffield United, where he was an important and popular player for several seasons. Last summer, he left English football to play for the Greek giant club Panathinaikos.
The exact cause of death has not yet been established. George Baldock became 31 years old.
