Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins was the hero on Wednesday night as his 90th-minute winner fired England to the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday.
Neither of the Aston Villa pair in Gareth Southgate’s England squad started in the 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands, with Ezri Konsa making way for the returning Marc Guehi despite impressing against Switzerland.
Ollie Watkins was at risk of having a disappointing tournament prior to his late heroics against the Dutch, having seemingly slipped to third in the striker pecking order behind Brentford’s Ivan Toney.
Having come off the bench against Denmark in the second group game, Watkins had not featured since with Harry Kane starting and Toney coming off the bench in the two previous knockout rounds.
However, it was the Villa forward who was chosen to replace Kane on Wednesday night and he has now revealed he actually predicted his match-winning impact whilst on the bench.
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Ollie Watkins told Dean Henderson he could be the ‘difference’ v Netherlands
Watkins will have undoubtedly been frustrated watching on this tournament fresh off the back of a season in which he scored 27 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions.
What has made this more difficult to stomach is the fact Kane has had a really poor tournament, looking sluggish and as though he is playing through the injury that kept him out of the end of the club season.
Despite this, Watkins has had to remain ready to make an impact if called upon and he certainly did that with his late winner in the Euros semi-final.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa duo react after Ollie Watkins fires England into Euro 2024 final after win v Netherlands
Speaking after the game, Watkins has now revealed that he predicted he could have a telling contribution to goalkeeper Dean Henderson whilst the pair were on the England bench.
In an interview posted by the TalkSPORT Youtube account, Watkins relives his goal before explaining what he told Henderson prior to coming on.
Watkins said: “I said to Dean Henderson, I can make a difference today, I need to get on that pitch and, yeah, obviously I’ve taken my chance when I got it and scored. Now we’re in the final and one last game.”
Could Watkins start against Spain in Euro 2024 final?
Watkins was given just nine minutes by Southgate to make his mark with the scores level in the semi-final.
The fact he had so little time may have been behind his decision to fire a strike at goal from a very narrow angle in the 90th-minute.
The strike, which was assisted by another substitute in Cole Palmer, was typical of Watkins.
A run in behind, a touch out his feet and a sharp strike before the goalkeeper is set has become something of a trademark for the Villa forward.
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All eyes now turn to Sunday’s final against Spain, but it is unlikely Southgate will drop Kane despite his poor performances.
However, Watkins has shown the England manager that he is ready to make an impact when called upon with a goal he will never forget.
