Ollie Watkins experienced the greatest moment of his career against the Netherlands, and got to fully drink it in afterwards.
The Aston Villa striker was England’s matchwinner against the Dutch in their Euro 2024 semi-final, scoring by far his most important international goal to clinch a 2-1 win in the final minute of the match.
Watkins had only just come off the bench for the final ten minutes of the match in his second appearance of the tournament.
The pressure was on having replaced captain and all-time top scorer Harry Kane, but Watkins stepped up in extraordinary fashion to turn and fire in Cole Palmer’s assist and make it back-to-back England finals at the European Championships.
The 28-year-old was mobbed by his teammates after his goal, and then once again at the final whistle, but after the chaos had subsided, they then gifted him a moment to remember.
With the England section of the crowd at the Westfalenstadion chanting Watkin’s name, the rest of the squad joined in behind him, showing the love in the Three Lions camp.
The goal marked an incredible climb up the ranks for Watkins, who started his career in League Two with local side Exeter City before moving onto Brentford in the Championship and then the Premier League with Villa.
Watkins registered a whopping 24 goals and 13 assists for Villa in 2023/24, leading the team to an unexpected Champions League return, and now with England he’s fully living the dream.
Discussing his epic goal post-match, he said: “I swear on my kids’ life, I told Cole Palmer earlier today, we’d be coming on and he’d set me up and I’d score. And it happened.
“I’m lost for words, really. When you score there are emotions that come through your body but this is a different feeling. It was slow motion when I was running over to the boys and celebrating.
“I didn’t want to get off the pitch at the end because I wanted to soak it all in because it doesn’t happen very often really.
“The goal is my bread and butter, running in behind and causing defence trouble.
“I said to Cole we were both going to get on the pitch and he was going to set me up at half-time. It happened. I manifested it.
“As soon as he turned I knew to make the move. You don’t get that opportunity very often. I had to be greedy.
“I’ve seen it go in the bottom corner. I don’t think I’ve hit the ball that sweet before in such a special moment.”
News Summary:
- England hero Ollie Watkins earns special moment as teammates join in with fans’ chant
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