Sport
‘We gave our soul’ to George Baldock says Greece hero Pavlidis after his goals spark poignant celebration in England win
By Kostas Lianos, Digital Sports Reporter
IT was back in 2019 when Greece legend Vasilis Torosidis – the heir to Euro 2004 hero Giourkas Seitaridis – retired from international duty after 101 caps.
A giant void was left behind at right-back, many talented players tried to step up – and none of them could fill those big boots.
But, soon enough, I started to hear whispers about a Premier League ace with Greek heritage who’s a starter week-in and week-out…
That was none other than George Baldock, born in Buckingham on March 9, 1993, to English parents but qualified for Greece through his grandmother.
And what a season he was having. The right-back starred for Sheffield United as they surprised the Prem in the 2019-20 campaign – their first in 12 years – by finishing in the top half of the table.
Baldock was among their standout players as he registered a staggering 3,420 minutes played – the joint highest along with the likes of Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk.
The defender was keen to make the big step to the international stage with his grandmother’s homeland – and it didn’t take long until he shook hands with the Greek football federation (EPO) chiefs.
However, a long and arduous paperwork slog stood in the way – with the then Sheffield United star claiming Covid-19 and Brexit slowed things down.
Greece finally got the right-back they were begging for for years as Baldock made his debut on June 2, 2022 in a Nations League clash at Northern Ireland as a late substitute.
It didn’t take long until the English-born ace owned the right flank at the back and impressive performances followed.
Perhaps none compare to the Euro 2024 qualifier against France in June 2023 when Baldock did the unthinkable and kept Kylian Mbappe quiet for 104 MINUTES, despite being injured and playing through “unimaginable” pain.
I still remember speaking to then-Greece manager Gus Poyet about his player’s stunning performance, and I will never forget the big smile the Chelsea legend had on his face.
Poyet reminded me of a proud father as he took me through the injury hell the full-back endured before squaring up against perhaps the world’s best player for his country.
A beaming Poyet told me: “Against the Republic of Ireland [three days beforehand] – and now that it is finished I can say it – after 20 minutes he had a very bad twist in his ankle, very bad. He was very close to come out. I asked him, ‘Can you hold until half-time?’
“At half-time his ankle was very, very swollen. He asked for a strapping and he asked me for five minutes. Give me five minutes and we’ll let you know. And he had an unbelievable second half running up and down and being outstanding.
“You don’t imagine the ankle after the game. You don’t imagine the ankle the day after, after the flight to France. Black and blue – swollen. And a day-and-a-half later you need to play against Mbappe.
“Ninety per cent of people will think, no chance. And I keep talking to him, individually. And he keeps saying to me, ‘Coach I’m gonna be there no worries’.
“And he didn’t play 20 minutes, he didn’t play 60 minutes, he played 104 minutes because the referee gave 14 minutes of injury time against Mbappe.”
It’s easy to understand how loyal Baldock was to every team he ever played for during his 15-year career, just by looking at his stats.
The Greek ace started his career at MK Dons in 2009 where he amassed a staggering 125 appearances throughout an eight-year stint that also saw him playing on loan for Northampton Town, Tamworth, IBV and Oxford United.
The defender joined Sheffield United in 2017 and registered a whopping 219 appearances in seven years that also saw him helping his team achieve two Premier League promotions.
Baldock’s work ethic and commitment was no different in Greece as he proudly stated two years ago: “To play for the national side is a great honour and a lot of pride involved for me and my family.
“Representing my country through my late grandmother, it’s a very proud moment for me and my family. I love the country and I will fight for every success”
Baldock never played for England at any level, but he always competed like a lion and he proved it on Sunday in his last ever match when he started for Panathinaikos, whom he joined in the summer, against eternal rivals Olympiacos in perhaps the most intense derby in Europe.
He served his team with honour as he helped them pick up a valuable point in a goalless draw against their in-form foes, who had just played their best game of the season with a 3-0 win over Braga in the Europa League a few days earlier.
He only managed 12 caps for Greece before his sudden and tragic death at the age of 31 on Wednesday in Athens.
But his fighting spirit and charisma at right-back with the white and blue, as well as his remarkable run in the Premier League and the Championship, show that he is leaving a legacy behind for many Greek and English fans to look up to.
McCall said new-look Sarries had room for improvement despite seeing off Exeter to remain the only unbeaten side in the division.
“The last performance we were more consistent throughout than we have been in the first couple of games,” he said.
“We’re happy with the energy, spirt and fight in the team. It’s a good sign and a good characteristic to have in a new team, but there is plenty to improve in our rugby.
“When you have got some new folk at your club and trying to establish partnerships and new relationships, the longer they are together the better.”
Samoan flanker Theo McFarland is not available after concussion at Exeter but Maro Itoje should start after training with England this week.
Tom Parton and Sam Spink remain a few weeks away but McCall said there was a chance Ollie Hartley could be back well before Christmas as his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury was ahead of schedule.
BOLIVIA have moved to a stadium 2,000 FEET higher in altitude in a bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The South American nation have always been difficult to beat at home due to their ground in La Paz being 11,940 feet above sea level.
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But three defeats in five games in World Cup qualifying left them in dire need of a result.
They sat second bottom of the 10-team table – prompting a major decision by the Bolivian FA.
In September, they decided to switch their final five home matches to the Villa Ingenio stadium in El Alto.
This is 13,615 feet above sea level – nearly 2,000 feet higher than their usual venue in La Paz.
They also appointed a new manager, Oscar Villegas, following the sacking of Antonio Carlos Zago in July after a disappointing Copa America.
And it seems to have worked.
After a 2-1 win away at Chile, they then beat Colombia 1-0 in El Alto on Thursday to move up to sixth in the table – the final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup.
They have not qualified for a World Cup since the US last hosted it 30 years ago.
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Following the decision to switch grounds, new head coach Villegas revealed it “is going to help us a lot”.
He said: “Soccer is made of details. It does not mean that with this [changing stadiums] we are going to win.
“We are trying to take care of details that can allow us to be more effective.
“In El Alto, we are going to try to be as intense as possible and to let them know that they are on a new pitch where we have been unbeatable.
“The psychological and emotional aspect also plays a role, it is something that is going to help us a lot.”
Bolivia‘s final four home games are against Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil.
England interim manager Lee Carsley says the Three Lions “have to be courageous at times” after his attacking line-up failed to impress in a 2-1 defeat by Greece.
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Bowring was born in Neath and was a product of the Neath Grammar School.
He played a few games for the Neath senior side in the back row alongside his boyhood idol Dai Morris, the former Wales flanker.
Bowring spent nine years with London Welsh where he appeared in 268 games, captaining the club for three seasons and representing the Barbarians on three occasions.
A teacher by profession, Bowring hung up his boots at 32 when he took up a job at Clifton College.
His first taste of coaching had come as a 20-year-old when he worked with the Briton Ferry RFC youth squad.
Bowring became involved with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) set-up where he worked his way through the ranks, coaching the Sevens, under-21s and Wales B sides.
After initially being caretaker coach as Wales beat Fiji in November 1995, Bowring took permanent control and was in charge for 28 more games.
He was tasked with trying to help Wales cope with the move to professionalism and also integrating returning rugby league players back into the union set-up.
Bowring was seen as seen as one of the great thinkers of the early professional game and he wanted his national side to play in the traditional expansive way associated with Welsh rugby.
His reign as Wales coach ended after he resigned following a heavy 51-0 defeat by France in the 1998 Five Nations at Wembley.
After working as a lecture in Cardiff Met university, Bowring was appointed to his RFU role.
Sport
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer REJECTS national team job as he waits for return to management three years after Man Utd sacking
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has reportedly rejected the chance to return to management.
The Norweigian has been out of work since being sacked by Manchester United in 2021.
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Solskjaer, 51, earned the full time job at Old Trafford after a stint as interim manager in 2018.
However, despite a promising start, he was axed after two and a half seasons.
Solskjaer has now been offered the chance to take over the Denmark national team.
Tipsbladet reported that he was approached over the vacant role following Kasper Hjulmand’s exit.
However, it is believed that Solskjaer rejected the chance to have an interview with the Danish FA.
Had he accepted the position, then he would have had the opportunity to coach current Red Devils Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen.
The report claims that it is because he is already in “negotiations with a major club” over the head coach role.
Solskjaer has recently admitted that he would accept a role back at Old Trafford if the opportunity arose.
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He told media: “If the family [United] asks, I would say yes every day of the week.
“It feels wrong to talk about jobs that other people have now, but I would say yes, of course.”
The Red Devils currently have Erik ten Hag in the dugout, although he faces an uncertain future.
The Dutchman has come under pressure from fans and the Old Trafford hierarchy due to the terrible start to the season.
Ten Hag was the full-time replacement for Solskjaer after Ralf Rangnick‘s interim spell ended in the summer after the 2020/21 season.
Arsenal’s Katie McCabe says Saturday’s match against Chelsea is a “massive game” and it “hurt” seeing the Blues win back-to-back WSL titles.
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