Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins is now the talk of the town after his heroics for England.
The 28-year-old is already much-loved at Aston Villa and has been utterly brilliant for the team since his transfer from Brentford in 2020.
But Ollie Watkins’ last-minute winner to fire England into the final of Euro 2024 is perhaps his greatest moment yet and he deserves all the plaudits.
It also needs to be noted that he has only come off the bench once before England dumped out the Netherlands, so he’s not exactly match-sharp.
Yet, Watkins took his chance like his career depended on it because, despite the tight angle, he arrowed that ball into the bottom corner.
Rightly so, Villa’s Player of the Season is getting huge credit for what he has just done, including Ross Kemp’s amazing reaction to Watkins’ winner for England.
But former England captain David Beckham has also sent a message to the player after his heroics against the Dutch.
The former winger wrote on his Instagram story ‘what a moment and well done, Ollie’, with Roy Keane agreeing.
The former Manchester United midfielder highlighted, on ITV Sport, how many times Watkins produced moments like that for Villa, and rightly so.
There is a reason why Unai Emery guided Villa into the Champions League because he had a man of the sheer class like Watkins to pick from.
And now the whole world is starting to realise that Watkins is one of the best in Europe, for a reason.
Ollie Watkins’ last-minute goal for England against the Netherlands
“That’s why they call it a TEAM,” wrote an elated Beckham, with a picture of Watkins. “What a moment. Well done Ollie.”
Keane added on ITV Sport: “They obviously have got big personalities. A desire to keep going. Late on in the game again. Well deserved.
“How many times have you seen him do that for Villa? He has got that in his locker. That sharp finish, his first touch, it sets him up to swivel and hit it. Brilliant.”
England v Spain Euro 2024 final
Watkins broke an astonishing record to send England to the Euro 2024 final and now there is a clamour for him to start.
England will face Spain in Berlin on Sunday and for the chance to end their decades and decades of hurt in winning a major trophy.
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One thing is for sure, the Spanish have been the team to beat this tournament and haven’t just won every game, but played the best football.
You sense Harry Kane will still start the final, but Gareth Southgate needs to be brave again, if things are going wrong, to introduce Watkins into the action a lot quicker because more of his brilliance is needed.
