Vangelis Pavlidis scored Greece’s first-ever objectives at Wembley Stadium to safe a historic 2-1 win over England within the Nations League on Thursday.
Pavlidis tiptoed into the world and fired a low shot previous goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to open the scoring in the beginning of the second half. Jude Bellingham equalized within the 87th minute with a shot from vary, however Pavlidis seized on a goalmouth scramble deep into stoppage time handy Greece its first victory over the Three Lions.
Greece celebrated the primary of Pavlidis’ objectives by holding George Baldock’s shirt excessive into the sky. The English-born Greek defender, who performed for Sheffield United and Panathinaikos, was discovered lifeless on Wednesday in his swimming pool in an Athens suburb.
Greece is now in first place in Nations League Group B2 with 9 factors out of 9. England is second with six.
Pavlidis would’ve had a hat-trick had he managed to remain onside when trying to transform Christos Tzolis’ move within the 83rd minute. The No. 48-ranked facet had one other two objectives dominated offside and an try cleared off the aim line.
Greece misplaced seven of its earlier 9 matches towards England, drawing two, however summoned one thing particular on an evening of somber remembrance.
Barely 24 hours earlier than kickoff, the Greek nationwide workforce confirmed Baldock – a right-back born in Buckingham, England, with Greek roots on his father’s facet – had died on the age of 31. He earned his first call-up in June 2022 and made 12 appearances for his nation of ancestry.
Baldock wasn’t a part of head coach Ivan Jovanovic’s squad for October’s Nations League matches.
The gamers in Greece’s beginning lineup held up Baldock’s shirt pre-match, and Pavlidis once more summoned his teammate’s former No. 2 after scoring the opener.
“It was a extremely special occasion for us due to George,” Pavlidis stated. “Now we have considered him so much since we heard it yesterday. A troublesome second for us as a result of George was a part of the workforce.
“Particular man. Now we have to play for him and it does not matter the rating in the present day. We gave the whole lot for him.”
For simply the third time in its historical past, England has misplaced 3 times at Wembley in a calendar yr.
Thursday’s defeat can be Lee Carsley’s first as England’s interim supervisor. Carsley changed Gareth Southgate on a brief foundation in August and led the nationwide workforce to back-to-back 2-0 victories over the Republic of Eire and Finland.
He should now reply for his uncommon tactical setup on Thursday. With Harry Kane sidelined by a suspected leg harm, Carsley opted towards fielding one other striker, rolling as an alternative with 5 attacking midfielders and with out forwards Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke for the primary hour. England ended up going 84 minutes with no shot on course.
“We tried one thing completely different and tried to overload the midfield. We tried it for 20 minutes yesterday, we experimented, and I am dissatisfied it did not come off,” Carsley stated. “With the standard of gamers we have got, that is the problem, to get all of them on the pitch.
“I believed it was a inventive approach to play. However we had been second greatest for lots of tonight. You’ll get setbacks and it is vital we reply.”
