England’s semi-final hero Ollie Watkins has stated that the Three Lions are not concerned with how they win or score, in response to King Charles’ message to the team.
Watkins sealed the victory against the Netherlands in the semi-final with a last-minute goal after coming off the bench in the final ten minutes of the match.
England’s dramatic late win means they have reached consecutive European Championship finals and will now face a formidable Spain side in the upcoming final on Sunday.
England doesn’t mind the method of victory
England faced criticism for their performances earlier in the tournament, but a shift to a back three during the quarter-final against Switzerland saw an improvement in their gameplay.
Although the first half against the Dutch was seen as one of Gareth Southgate’s side’s finest performances in the tournament, they still faced challenges in the second half.
England’s journey to the final has been filled with thrilling moments, including last-minute winners, stoppage time bicycle kicks, and a penalty shootout triumph.
No matter what critics say, England has proven to be a resilient team with players who can produce moments of brilliance when needed.
Following the last-minute win against the Netherlands, King Charles urged the team to secure victories without any more late drama-filled moments.
When asked about this message, Watkins emphasized that England is focused on winning without being concerned about how they do it or who scores the goals.
“As much as it makes it more exciting, I feel like personally we don’t care how we win or score, as long as the ball goes in the back of the net,” he told BBC Sport.
Watkins had to wait for his chance in Germany, with his appearance against the Netherlands marking only his second appearance in the tournament and his first since the group stage match against Denmark.
The 28-year-old will be eager for another opportunity in the final, where he will surely be dreaming of scoring the winning goal and creating history on Sunday.
