Ollie Watkins fires England to Euro 2024 final

This isn’t England.

International football on this island is meant to hurt, meant to scar. It’s been 28 years since ’30 years of hurt’ came into the lexicon, yet here we are, still taking the blows and still processing the trauma as it unfolds.

But now, England are no longer underachievers. They are simply achievers. It’s pretty damn hard to be consistently good at this international tournament lark, but Gareth Southgate’s men have bucked the trend which had the country in a chokehold.

England are into the final of Euro 2024 – their second-successive European final, their third-ever final in general, their first final on foreign soil.

After drinking from the misery well to fuel up for the knockout stages, and then spending another 95 minutes indulging in that abyss, the Three Lions have come up with a series of showstoppers to keep their tournament campaign alive.

First, it was Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick. Then it was Bukayo Saka’s screamer and the ensuing penalty shootout.

Wrapping up this trilogy towards Berlin was Ollie Watkins’ goal from nothing.

Discounting stoppage time, Watkins’ strike could not have come any later. The clock struck 90:00 as the ball nestled in the back of the net, the rare example of a footballing buzzer-beater.

It was an inauspicious move which led England there, too. Everything about it was a little inconspicuous, a little unsuspecting. Perhaps that’s why the Netherlands guard was let down for a crucial split second.

89:54. Declan Rice collects the ball in the centre circle and fires it towards Kobbie Mainoo five years inside the Netherlands half. The pass is overhit and just out of reach, but mercifully, the Manchester United starlet’s toe bounced the ball away from the onrushing Tijjani Reijnders. It’s up for grabs now.

89:55. Cole Palmer recovers the loose ball and begins a saunter forward. The movement is languid, but the speed of thought and procession of play is much quicker – two key details which have made Palmer an impactful substitute. One glance upward between the backtracking duo of Nathan Ake and Virgil van Dijk – there’s Watkins, peeling away from Stefan de Vrij, who is struggling to match him for pace.

89:56. There goes the pass. Crisp and clean, but for the cut of the Signal Iduna Park turf, which slows it upon arrival at Watkins’ feet. Instead of coming in stride in a swift motion, he had work to do.

89:57. De Vrij has now caught up and approaching…