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Ollie Watkins was the hero as he scored a 90th-minute winner for England in their 2-1 Euro 2024 semi-final win against the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday (July 10).
The game started with the Netherlands scoring after eight minutes as a Declan Rice error saw Xavi Simons latch onto the ball and power it into the back of the net. But the Three Lions didn't back down, eventually growing into the game.
Harry Kane was felled in the box after his foot was clipped by Denzel Dumfries. He converted the penalty to restore parity. While there were many chances for both sides, it was a struggle to find the all-important goal. That was, of course, until Watkins showed up.
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He came on for Kane in the 81st minute, alongside Cole Palmer, who came on for Phil Foden. Both substitutes combined for a 90th-minute winner. Palmer laid the ball on for Watkins, and the Aston Villa striker powered the ball into the side netting from a tight angle.
After the win, Ollie Watkins told ITV while picking up his Player of the Match award (via Metro):
"I swear on my life, my kids’ lives, I said to Cole Palmer: 'We’re coming on today, and you’re gonna set me up', and that’s why I was so happy with Coley.
"I knew as soon as he got the ball that he was going to play me in, and you’ve got to be greedy, touch and finish. When I’ve seen it go in the bottom corner … it’s the best feeling ever."
England face Spain in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday (July 14).
Ollie Watkins helps England make history with Euro 2024 semi-final win
This will be the first time England will play the final of a major tournament on foreign soil. They are also in the final of consecutive Euros for the first time, having lost on penalties to Italy at Euro 2020 three years ago.
It was all thanks to Ollie Watkins, who made the decisive intervention with extra time looming. The 28-year-old has played just 29 minutes at Euro 2024, with head coach Gareth Southgate giving most of the minutes to Kane.
However, in his limited minutes, the supersub has done the unexpected for England as they look to end a 58-year major-tournament title drought.
