England & Greece to mark Baldock death before game

England and Greece players volition deterioration achromatic armbands and clasp a play of soundlessness successful tribute to George Baldock earlier Thursday night's Nations League fixture astatine Wembley.

The England-born Greece planetary drowned successful a swimming excavation astatine his location successful Glyfada, confederate Athens, connected Wednesday night.

Baldock, who joined Greek broadside Panathinaikos past summertime aft 7 years with Sheffield United, was capped 12 times by Greece.

Sources wrong the Greece campy told BBC Sport that the players are "devastated" by Baldock's abrupt death.

Greece sources told the BBC that the Greek FA asked astir a imaginable postponement of Thursday’s game, which kicks disconnected astatine 19:45 BST, but were told by Uefa that determination was nary country successful the engaged calendar.

BBC Sport has approached Uefa for comment.

In a associated statement, the Greece players said: "It is intolerable to judge that our beloved person and team-mate, George, is nary longer with us. Our symptom is indescribable.

"Tonight, we volition effort to scope the spot of his soul, which is simply a agleam illustration for america all. Our thoughts are with his family. We volition ne'er hide you friend."

Greece sources said the squad recovered retired astir their team-mate's decease erstwhile returning from grooming astatine Wembley connected Wednesday nighttime and had "barely slept".

Many of the players were bully friends with Baldock, including Greece skipper Anastasios Bakasetas, who besides plays for Panathinaikos.

Baldock's assemblage was recovered astatine 22:30 section clip (20:30 BST) connected Wednesday.

A constabulary spokesperson said determination was nary grounds of transgression activity.

Toxicology trial results are expected successful the coming days portion constabulary volition besides analyse CCTV footage.

Baldock started his vocation astatine MK Dons successful 2009 and played much than 100 times for them.

He had indebtedness spells with respective clubs including Northampton and Oxford United, earlier joining Sheffield United successful 2017.

He made 219 appearances successful each competitions for the club, helping them to promotion to the Premier League successful 2019 and again successful 2023.

Baldock was calved successful Buckingham but qualified for Greece done his maternal grandma and was called up for the archetypal clip by manager Gus Poyet successful May 2022.

He made his debut for the state the pursuing period successful a 1-0 triumph implicit Northern Ireland astatine Windsor Park successful Belfast.