In a poignant tribute to their fallen team-mate, the Greek national team secured a historic victory over England at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 10th October 2024.  The win comes just one day after the tragic death of Greek defender George Baldock.  The Greek players, visibly emotional throughout the match, dedicated their performance to Baldock.  Their determination and passion were evident from the start, as they produced one of Greece's finest performances since winning the Euro 2004 competition in Portgugal.  It was the first time Greece had scored a goal at Wembley, and the first time Greece had beaten England.  Playing in the UEFA Nations League, the 2-1 win against England at Wembley made it extra special, with two goals scored in the second half from striker Vangelis Pavlidis.

Despite facing intense pressure from the home crowd, the Greeks maintained their composure and gradually gained control of the game.  Their efforts were rewarded early in the second half when Pavlidis scored the openning goal.  Although England managed to equalise very late in the match from Jude Bellingham, Greece were not to be denied.  In a dramatic finish, Pavlidis scored again in the 94th minute to secure the famous victory.  The away win wasn't a fluke either, as Greece had three goals ruled out for offside and one attempt dramatically cleared off the goal-line by central defender Levi Colwill in the first half.  England, with captain Harry Kane not starting through injury, had two shots on target throughout the whole match. Greece supporters had the time of their lives.

A minute's silence was held in memory of George Baldock before the Nations League match, and Pavlidis held his black armband aloft after scoring the game's opening goal, before the whole team raised Baldock's number two shirt in celebration.  Baldock was capped twelve times by his country, and had joined Greek club Panathinaikos in the summer after playing seven years in England with Sheffield United.  He made 219 appearances for the Blades, helping them to promotion to the English Premier League in 2019, and again in 2023.  Born in Buckingham, Baldock qualified for Greece through his maternal grandmother.  Baldock's body was found in a swimming pool in Athens on Wednesday evening, his family said drowning was confirmed as the cause of death.

The Greece players found out about their team-mate's death when returning from training at Wembley on Wednesday evening and had barely slept that night.  Yet they still managed to defy the odds, becoming the lowest-ranked side to defeat England in a competitive home match.  In an after-match ITV interview, the Greek captain Pavlidis said "It was a really special game for us because of George (Baldock), we gave everything for him and his family.  It's a great win, but more important is the emotions, we're people and it's a special night because of him first of all".   Greece will host England in Athens on Thursday 14th November 2024.

Six days after the Greek victory at Wembley, The English FA announced the appointment of Thomas Touchel, ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager, as the new England manager.  Touchel already signed a contract on 8th October, officially taking over on 1st January 2025.  England's interim manager Lee Carsley remains in charge until then, including the UEFA Nations League match against Greece in Athens, following Gareth Southgate's resignation after the 2-1 EURO 2024 final defeat against Spain in Berlin.

Lee Carsley's injury hit England side, played Greece in a packed Olympic Stadium in Athens on Thursday 14th November 2024.  Before the kick-off, there was a presentation for the Greece team who stunned the football world by winning the EURO 2004 in Portugal.  The Greece squad was paraded on the pitch to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of that triumph, joined by their legendary German coach, 86-year-old 'King Otto' Rehhagel, made a Greek citizen following their famous victory.

The present Greece team had not let in a single goal at home since November 2023, and beaten England weeks earlier, but both teams needed to win this game, as to top their UEFA Nations League B group and get automatic promotion to an A group for next season.  Redemption and revenge for Carsley came in the shape of a stylish victory in Athens, where the vast crowd inside the Olympic Stadium were silent by the end of England's deserved 3-0 win.  An early goal by Ollie Watkins was added to in the second half by an own-goal by the Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos after Jude Bellingham had struck the post, and a flash of genius by debutant Curtis Jones.  In the end, an inexperienced and makeshift England team made the task look relatively easy.