There was a sombre second simply earlier than kick-off as each groups — and the entire stadium — paid tribute to Baldock, who died this week on the age of 31.
The away crew emerged with a white Greece house shirt sporting ‘BALDOCK 2’ on the again. Baldock, who was born in England however certified for Greece via his grandmother, was capped 12 instances.
Then, with the stadium’s huge screens displaying a photograph of Baldock, the England gamers applauded on the sting of the centre circle whereas the Greece crew stood arm-in-arm. Following bulletins in English and Greek, the entire stadium then held nonetheless in silence — a minute’s respect that was completely noticed.
There was even a Greece flag with a Sheffield United badge held up among the many England followers, considered one of many tributes paid to the previous Milton Keynes Dons, Sheffield United and Panathinaikos defender.
These continued in the course of the sport itself, with Pavlidis holding up a black armband as he celebrated opening the scoring. His team-mates gathered to elevate the identical ‘BALDOCK 2’ shirt to the heavens, making certain the full-back wouldn’t be forgotten.