Watkins’ Winner Promises a Special Moment for England’s Unused Subs
In a thrilling Euro 2024 semi-final, Ollie Watkins scored the winning goal for England against the Netherlands, securing a spot in the final against Spain. But what’s even more interesting is the promise Watkins made to two unused substitutes before the match – Dean Henderson and Lewis Dunk.
The Aston Villa forward revealed in the latest episode of Lions’ Den that he made a pre-match prediction that Cole Palmer would assist him for the winning goal, and only told the Chelsea star about it. But that’s not all – Watkins also promised to celebrate with Henderson and Dunk if he scored, and he made sure to keep his word.
The duo, who have not played a minute for England at Euro 2024, were left out of the starting lineup, with Henderson serving as the third-choice goalkeeper and Dunk being overshadowed by Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa in the centre-back pecking order. However, Watkins’ celebration with them was a special moment, showing that even the players on the bench can feel included and valued.
"It was nice that they all jumped on the pitch and could be part of it," Watkins said. "Sometimes you can feel a little bit left out when you’re not on the pitch and making an impact. Me celebrating with them, I’ve been sitting on the bench experiencing this, so I wanted to make it feel special for everyone."
Watkins’ goal was a stunning moment, as he held off defender Micky van de Ven before angling his effort into the bottom left corner on the turn. It was his second appearance of the tournament, and he made the most of his opportunity.
England’s progress to the final is a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. They will face Spain in Berlin on Sunday, and fans will be eagerly anticipating another thrilling match.
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