Greece's midfielder Dimitrios Pelkas has expressed that the team was reluctant to play their Nations League match against England following the tragic death of George Baldock. Despite their reservations, the players felt compelled to compete in his memory. Baldock, a former Sheffield United defender, passed away at the age of 31 after drowning in his swimming pool in Athens. He earned 12 caps for the Greek national team, having qualified to represent Greece through his grandmother. His last appearance for the squad was during the Euro 2024 play-off defeat against Georgia. Pelkas emphasized that in light of such a profound loss, football takes a backseat to the realities of life. The team ultimately decided to honor Baldock by striving for victory in the match.