‘Absolutely Gutted’ – John Stones Reacts to England’s Defeat

Stand-in England captain John Stones expressed his disappointment following the team’s 2-1 loss against Greece on Thursday evening. Stones, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time, watched his team lose to a stunning injury-time winner by Vangelis Pavlidis, just seconds after Jude Bellingham’s late equalizer appeared to have saved a point.

The victory was especially meaningful for Greece because the club was mourning the loss of teammate George Baldock, who died unexpectedly on Wednesday. Stones appreciated their opponents’ emotional weight and the challenging circumstances surrounding the contest.

John Stone’s Reaction

Following the game, Stones stated:

“On a personal basis, I’m very disappointed. This was the first time I used the armband, and the result was as shown. It’s difficult to put into words. We prepared as usual, but it didn’t come together. that’s a shame that happened on this particular night.”

He proceeded to compliment Greece’s performance, saying:

“We must give them credit. They started putting us under pressure right away. We struggled to break the lines, which were incredibly close. We were disappointed.”

Stones also expressed his condolences, saying:

“For everyone in the dressing room and the FA, our thoughts are with Baldock’s family. Some of the boys stood close to him. Dean Henderson, in particular, struggled with the news. It was not an easy day for Greece.”