Key events
There’s no Harry Kane for England tonight … and no recognised striker in Lee Carsley’s starting XI. No matter: Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are all crowbarred in, and they’re not exactly a bad collection of back-up attacking talent. Ollie Watkins and Dominic Solanke wait on the bench, just in case.
The teams
England: Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Colwill, Lewis, Rice, Palmer, Foden, Saka, Bellingham, Gordon.
Subs: Pope, Henderson, Walker, Livramento, Guehi, Jones. Gallagher, Gomes, Madueke, Watkins, Solanke.
Greece: Vlachodimos, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Giannoulis, Kourbelis, Siopis, Masouras, Bakasetas, Tzolis, Pavlidis.
Subs: Tzolakis, Mandas, Vagiannidis, Retsos, Douvikas, Pelkas, Chatzigiovanis, Hatzidiakos, Konstantelias, Zafeiris, Mantalos.
Referee: Andrea Colombo (Italy).
Preamble
Tonight’s Nations League match between England and Greece will be played in the most tragic circumstances after the sudden death of George Baldock. The Greek squad are collectively “devastated” by the news of their team-mate’s passing, with the Hellenic Football Federation having reportedly asked for a postponement, but Uefa were said to have denied the request, citing a busy calendar.
Baldock had moved to Panathinaikos in the summer, having previously represented MK Dons, Oxford United and Sheffield United with distinction. Beloved by fans of all his clubs, he was an equally popular member of the Greek squad, for which the Buckingham-born right-back qualified through his maternal grandmother, and for whom he won 12 caps. The Greece players, who “barely slept” last night upon finding out the tragic news, have issued a joint statement.
It is impossible to believe that our dear friend and team-mate, George, is no longer with us. Our pain is indescribable.
Tonight, we will try to reach the strength of his soul, which is a bright example for us all. Our thoughts are with his family. We will never forget you friend.
Greece’s players, along with those of England, will wear black armbands and hold a period of silence before tonight’s game, which kicks off at 7.45pm BST. Go well, George.
