Englandโs Ollie Watkins celebrates at the end of a semifinal against the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Ollie Watkins is, in his own words, a realist.
He has never pictured himself playing at a major tournament for England โ especially when, as a teenager learning his trade as a striker, he was sent on loan to English sixth-tier club Weston-super-Mare in 2015.
So imagine what went through Watkinsโ mind when he saw his stoppage-time shot fly past Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and into the bottom corner to earn England a place in the European Championship final?
โI donโt think Iโve hit a ball that sweet before,โ Watkins said after Englandโs 2-1 victory over the Dutch in the semifinals on July 10.
Suddenly, Watkins is the toast of England, an improbable turnaround in fortunes for a striker who had played 24 minutes at Euro 2024 โ as a substitute in the group stage against Denmark โ before replacing captain Harry Kane in the 80th minute for the biggest moment of his career.
Being an understudy for Kane, Englandโs all-time leading scorer with 66 goals, is a tough business. Minutes are scarce โ Kane typically plays the full game โ so every opportunity has to be grasped.
Watkins did just that with a goal that fans of the Premier League have seen time and again in his games playing for Aston Villa.
Darting behind the Dutch defense in a manner that is beyond Kane these days, Watkins controlled a pass from Cole Palmer with his back to goal then, in one movement, swiveled and fired a low shot through the legs of Netherlands defender Stefan De Vrij and past Verbruggen from a narrow angle.
โThatโs my bread and butter โ running in behind, causing trouble,โ Watkins said.
If that sounds quite basic, then thatโs the kind of striker Watkins is.
Hard-working.
Selfless.
Pretty much the ultimate team player.
โIโve put in a lot of hard work to get to this point,โ said Watkins, who was tied as the fourth top scorer in the Premier League this season with 19 goals. โItโs not just this season, itโs cumulative.
โIโve done a lot of hard work and Iโm going to enjoy every moment.โ
That was evident as Watkins was engulfed by joyous teammates on the field at Westfalenstadion after his goal, his fourth for England. Two of them came against San Marino, the worldโs lowest-ranked team.
โIt was slow motion when I was running to the boys and celebrating… I didnโt want to leave the pitch,โ he said.
โIโve had a few messages from my friends saying, โBe patient, youโre going to get an opportunity.โ When Iโve been on the bench, Iโve definitely said to (backup goalkeeper) Dean Henderson, โI can make a difference today, I need to get on that pitch.โ Obviously Iโve taken my chance when Iโve got it and Iโve scored and now weโre in the final.โ
Southgate smiled as he said Watkins had โsaved us another half hourโ of extra time, which England needed to get past Slovakia and Switzerland previously in the knockout stage.
โVery, very special for him,โ Southgate said.
