Ollie Watkins emerged as the unlikely hero after coming on as a late substitute after his 90th-minute goal helped England clinch a <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2024/07/10/netherlands-v-england-super-sub-watkins-sends-three-lions-into-euro-2024-final/" target="_blank">dramatic 2-1 win</a> over the Netherlands and seal a spot in the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/euros/" target="_blank">Euro 2024 </a>final. Watkins had played just 20 minutes in Germany – in the group stage against Denmark. He was introduced after 80 minutes as the game hung in the balance at 1-1 with extra time looming. On for <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/harry-kane/" target="_blank">Harry Kane</a>, who had earlier equalised for England following a contentious VAR penalty call, Watkins received a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer with his back to goal, turned and fired low into the far corner to stun the Dutch and send the Three Lions through to a title clash with Spain. Watkins, 28, plays his club football in England for Aston Villa. He ended the 2023/24 season as joint-fourth top scorer in the Premier League with 19 goals. Watkins has come a long way since his early days when, as a teenager still learning his trade as a striker, he was sent on loan to English sixth-tier club Weston-super-Mare in 2015. A product of the Exeter City academy, Watkins signed a contract with the club operating in England's third division in 2014 but found first-team chances hard to come by, prompting the loan to Weston. After returning to Exeter ahead of the 2015/16 season, he began breaking into the starting XI and climbed up the ladder. His next big move came in 2017 when Watkins joined Championship club Brentford on a four-year contract. He hit his stride in the 2019/20 season, making 50 appearances for the Bees, scoring 26 goals in all competitions. The season ended in heartbreak as Brentford lost the Championship play-off final to Fulham. Then came the breakthrough moment. In September 2020, Watkins joined <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/premier-league/" target="_blank">Premier League </a>club Aston Villa on a five-year contract for a then club-record fee of £28 million. Watkins enjoyed a stellar 2023/24 season, providing 13 assists as well as scoring 19 goals in the Premier League that helped <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2023/12/08/unai-emery-faces-old-club-arsenal-having-turned-aston-villa-into-unlikely-title-contenders/" target="_blank">Unai Emery's side </a>finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League. In total, Watkins has made 146 appearances for Villa, scoring 59 goals. Despite his impressive club form, Watkins has found chances with England few and far between. His goal against the Netherlands was just his fourth for England in 14 appearances. Two of them came against San Marino, the world’s lowest-ranked team. <b>Watkins</b>: "I said to Cole [Palmer] that we were both going to go on the pitch and he was going to set me up, at half time. It happened, I manifested it and as soon as he turned I knew I needed to make a move. You don't get that opportunity very often so I had to be greedy, I had to take it. "After seeing it go into the bottom corner I don't think I've hit a ball that sweetly before. Obviously it's such a special moment. "I didn't dream about that to be honest. I can't lie and say I did. Scoring for England is amazing but I didn't think I'd do it in a tournament like that." <b>Gareth Southgate</b>: "We just felt energy-wise we were starting to lose pressure. Harry [Kane] got a knock in the first half as well and, of course, Ollie can press well, he can make those runs in behind like he did. We thought it was a good moment to try it. "Very, very special for him."
