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The night of October 10, 2024 will be etched in the memory of Greek fans forever. Ivan Jovanovic's team achieved a historic 1-2 victory over the hosts England. He wrote an epic that will not be forgotten. Inspired by George, dedicated to George Baldock, the man who died just one day earlier from drowning in his home pool. So the 2-1 of the Greek national team in the magnificent and full of 80,000 fans "Wembley" came like Divine Judgment and Vangelis Pavlidis was its exponent, in his greatest moment with the "blue shirt".
So Greece made history by winning for the first time away from England, which should not escape our attention was a finalist twice in the European Championship (2001 lost to Italy again at Wembley and in the summer of 2024 in the fields of Germany this time from Spain). So this success can be characterized as the greatest for the Greek national team, away from home.
With its incredible success, the Greek national team creates another dynamic not only in terms of its continuation in the Nations League but also in relation to its future in general. With this victory, the Greek national team is the only first in its group in the Nations League.
The "blue team" took the lead with Vangelis Pavlidis in the 49th minute. Then he saw England equalize with Bellingham in the 87th minute (he had single-handedly led England to victory). However, the resourceful Greeks had not said their last word. The football players found their mental reserves and got the incredible victory (which they deserved though) with Pavlidis writing 2-1 in the 90'+4' and giving a magnificent victory to the National team and also to the memory of Baldock. Thus they sealed a historic double. Of course, it is worth noting that all the football players gave their soul in this game and a little more Christos Tzolis, the striker of Belgium, Bruges...
Before the game in the locker room the captain, Tasos Bakasetas, had made a chilling speech "We must become a sacrifice to honor Baldock".
This success of Ivan Jovanovic's team is the first against England and the 4th overall against the "three lions", France, Germany, Spain and Italy. About the top 5 European leagues.
The previous two victories in official matches were achieved on the way to the legendary and unforgettable Euro 2004. Against Spain in the qualifiers (goal by Giannakopoulos), the Greek national team won away from home 1-0 and in the quarter-final against France on the courts of Portugal. Where Charisteas' header was enough to lead the "blue team" to a surprising 1-0 victory and qualification to the semi-finals of the institution.
President Makis Gagatsis.
The President of the Hellenic Football Federation, Makis Gagatsis, emphasized: "Words are poor in front of what happened yesterday with George, the victory is dedicated to him alone. The absolute protagonists are the players and the coach who sacrificed their lives today and a golden page was written in the history of the National team. I hope the stadium will be full on Sunday, people deserve to love this team, they proved it today by making us all proud, but making George even more proud from above".
The Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: "The children of the national team succeeded in making the memory of George a "blue and white legend" that will move forever". Meanwhile, the Portuguese press deified Vangelis Pavlidis after Greece's epic at "Wembley".
Benfica's Greek centre-forward produced his top game in the colors of the 'blue and white shirt', scoring both of Greece's goals in a huge 2-1 away win over mighty England.
As expected, the Portuguese idolized Pavlidis for his performance at "Wembley".
Years Match Scorer
04.03.1972 Greece Italy 2-1 (Friendly) Antoniadis (12'), Pomonis (55') - Boninsenia (19')
07.06.2003 Spain - Greece 0-1 (pr. Euro) Giannakopoulos (42')
25.06.2004 France - Greece 0-1 (Euro 2004) Charisteas (65')
10.10.2024 England - Greece 1-2 (Nations League) Pavlidis (49', 90+4') - Bellingham (84')
Manos Staramopoulos
Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs
Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com
Athens (Greece)