Ollie Watkins’ Late Winner for England: Gareth Southgate’s 1000IQ Move Pays Off
Football fans around the world went bonkers when Ollie Watkins scored a stunning late goal to send England to the final of Euro 2024. But did you notice a crucial decision made by Gareth Southgate that might have been the reason behind Watkins’ winner?
Coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute, Watkins received a dream pass from Cole Palmer and sent the ball flying into the back of the net. It was a sublime finish, and England’s supporters at the BVB Stadion could hardly contain their excitement.
The late goal capped off an entertaining affair between England and the Netherlands, which looked destined for a penalty shootout after going 1-1 at the final whistle. But Southgate’s bold decision to take off Harry Kane and replace him with Watkins proved to be the game-winner.
So, what happened? Did Southgate genuinely believe Watkins was the key to England’s victory? Perhaps he received some valuable advice from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, his tactical advisor and former Dutch forward. The similarities between Watkins’ winner and many of Hasselbaink’s great goals are uncanny.
Hasselbaink, now 52 and part of Southgate’s coaching staff, will surely take credit for this inspirational moment. As one fan shrewdly observed on X, "Just realised how extremely Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink that Watkins finish is." Another commenter speculated, "He’s the first player I thought of when that went in now he’s part of the staff."
England’s final fixture against Spain in Berlin may be a daunting task, but for now, they can savor the sweet taste of victory and pride in their ability to overcome adversity.
Stick with us for more thrilling stories and updates from the world of football as we head into the most high-stakes matches of the year.
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