Ollie Watkins adds his name to roll call of those grabbing England's most iconic goals - as dream of Berlin final becomes reality
Euro Championships semi-final
England 2-1 Holland
It is surely one of those moments that will stand alongside the most seismic in the history of the English national side.
Think Bobby Charlton and that gliding run and thunderbolt at Wembley to get the 66 World Cup campaign up and running. Think of the David Platt winner against Belgium in Italia 90. Or the Michael Owen slalom through the Argentinian defence in 98. Think of wonderkid Wayne Rooney's crashing shot against Croatia in Portugal in 2004.
Whatever he does for the rest of his career, Ollie Watkins' stunning injury time winner in Dortmund to take England to a second successive Euro final is right up there. The former Bees striker will be able to dine out on this one forever more.
"I've been waiting for that moment for weeks," declared Ollie Watkins after his star turn. He and the nation will feel it was well worth that wait. He made it count big time.
For once Gareth Southgate got a tune from his players and made a crucial in-game change when he took a punt on Watkins and withdrew Harry Kane. It turned out to be a master stroke.
All too often, players find their good club habits desert them on this stage, but here, Watkins looked as if he was enjoying himself at Villa Park. Rolling a defender and rifling into the far corner. It was the sort of goal that has looked beyond an unfit Kane in this tournament.
Another sub played a part too. A nice footnote to bank. Chelsea’s Cole Palmer claims an assist by playing the ball into just the sort of area Watkins is fond of exploiting.
Overall, England rediscovered a zest for life that had gone awol in Germany. Even the goal scored by Xavi Simons after a loss of possession from Declan Rice did not kill their stomach for the fight.
They deservedly equalised with a Kane penalty after a contentious challenge from Denzel Dumfries on the England skipper. It needed VAR to intervene before German ref Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot.
England looked rampant in the first half. Phil Foden struck woodwork and had a shot cleared off the line by Dumfries, who headed against the England bar. With 63 percent possession, they ought to have cashed in on their superiority over the Orangemen - whose far greater number of fans fell silent for long spells.
The Netherlands regrouped after the break and denied Foden the same freedom to cause trouble. Southgate's men had to revert to tournament type in showing caution and patience. At the back of their minds, maybe, was that another penalty shoot out would hold no terrors. But they found a way to win it anyway.
A delirious finale then. Just as it was against Slovakia. Spain in Berlin are now the last remaining obstacle to a first major trophy since that one and only famous one. Watkins has given this squad reason to believe they can finally make it happen.
Pictured top: Kane's equalising penalty. Picture by: wideboygeorge
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