Greece captain blasts people 'telling George Baldock jokes' after emotional England win

Greece paid the perfect tribute to late team-mate George Baldock with one of the greatest victories in their entire history as they defeated England 2-1 at Wembley in Nations League action on Thursday night

Greece captain Tasos Bakasetas has called out sections of the Greek media for "telling jokes" and making "insinuations" following George Baldock's tragic passing.

The 31-year-old attacking midfielder, who was also Baldock's club team-mate at Panathinaikos, was speaking after his side recorded an iconic 2-1 victory at Wembley courtesy of Vangelis Pavlidis' heroic brace and 94th-minute winner.

He told reporters: "I consider it the most important victory of my life. And I am really very proud. With these children we share the locker room of the national team, we are inside the stadium, because everyone gave their lives today from the first minute despite the tragic news .

"This is where I think a full stop comes in as far as football is concerned. I want to dedicate this victory of course to George, to his family, to send them our strength and us doing everything we could.

"Furthermore, it is a shame that some of your colleagues, I won't say all, because there are some who do their job exceptionally well, used this tragedy by writing and telling jokes, leaving insinuations.

"This has to stop, because above everyone and everything you have to be human. This some have not understood and it is really a great shame what we saw before the game."

"They disrespected first of all George's family and then all of us who had that contact with them."

Baldock's family confirmed on Thursday via a statement that the former Sheffield United defender's official cause of death was drowning after he was found unresponsive in his swimming pool.

His former Greece team-mates paid the perfect tribute to their late colleague by recording their first-ever win over England and becoming the lowest-ranked side ever to win at Wembley in doing so.

Two-goal match-winner Pavlidis later added: "It was a very special day and match for us. Our thoughts are with George. We are professionals and had to play the match. We gave our soul for him tonight. Today is not a day to talk about football. He was part of our team. We will miss him very much.

"Also to wish strength to his family and not talk about football. The whole day was numb. We won tonight and don't want to celebrate. There are just no words."

Greece had made a request to UEFA to postpone the match but the Nations League fixture was ordered to go ahead.

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