Euro 2024 final: England's Ollie Watkins says Spain's ‘generational talent’ Lamine Yamal has ‘the world ahead of him’
Updated 13/07/2024 at 11:04 GMT+1
England will come up against the "best team" at Euro 2024 in Sunday's final when they play Spain, who have "generational talent" Lamine Yamal in their ranks. But Three Lions hero Ollie Watkins is hopeful that Gareth Southgate's side can "get the job done" and end their wait for European glory. “I feel like we are very strong. We have goals from everywhere," he said.
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Ollie Watkins is hopeful England can "get the job done" when they meet Spain in the European Championship final, but is wary of “generational talent” Lamine Yamal.
Yamal, 16, smashed the record to become the youngest player to score at a Euros by more than 18 months when he struck a thunderbolt to equalise against France in the semi-finals.
His goal cancelled out an early French opener before Dani Olmo struck the winner just minutes later to put Spain into their first major final since 2012.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s showdown, Watkins was full of praise for the teenager - who turns 17 on Saturday - but alerted him to the importance of being "grounded and focused”.
“I was definitely not preparing for a final,” Watkins replied when asked what he was doing at 16 years old.
“He [Yamal] is a generational talent, it's not always you're scoring against France at 16. He's got the world ahead of him. He's miles ahead of what I was at 17.
“With social media and hype, being at Barcelona and Spain, there's so much hype around him.
"You need people around you to keep you grounded and focused.”
England midfielder Declan Rice also praised Yamal, saying he is "really special".
“As soon as we won the game the other day I saw a stat that he was 12 when Covid hit," Rice said. "That was pretty scary that he was 12 years old when Covid was around. It shows how good he is. He’s 16. I don’t know why the French players would talk a player down like that because what he’s done at Barcelona as a 16-year-old, you have to actually just applaud it.
"Me as a football fan as well as a player, you have to respect it. Sometimes you have to say at 16 wow that shows a lot of guts to play for Barcelona [for] one, but also to do what he’s doing at that age. It’s really, really special."
Watkins ‘manifested’ semi-final strike
Watkins, like Yamal, was also on the scoresheet in the semi-finals when he netted a dramatic last-gasp winner against Netherlands to make it back-to-back Euro finals for The Three Lions.
The Aston Villa striker featured only once for Gareth Southgate’s side at Euro 2024 prior to the last-four clash but admitted he had “manifested” scoring a crucial goal, despite the lack of minutes.
“I think I watched it [his goal] quite a few times when I got back to camp,” Watkins admitted. “I always watch my goals back, that one, I watched quite a few more times than normal.
“I was manifesting it, a lot has led up to it. A good friend said he felt like I would score in the Euros final, I did it a match before. You never know, I might be saving another one for the final.
“Little things have happened prior to the game. I just feel like whatever you put into the universe, you get it back.”
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Ollie Watkins, England, Euro 2024
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Reflecting on the iconic strike, Watkins added: “It's been an unbelievable feeling. One that I was taken aback. But I wasn't in shock that I've done that really.
“I have full belief in myself, I manifested it. I worked hard to get there but I'm not shocked.”
England ‘have goals from everywhere’
Although England have made successive final appearances at the Euros, Watkins admitted that Spain have been the standout team in Germany so far.
The 28-year-old credited Luis de la Fuente’s side for their attacking flair but also insisted that England have “goals from everywhere” across the team.
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Harry Kane, who has been criticised for his performances at the tournament so far, has the joint-most goals at the Euros while Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Watkins have all chipped in with decisive efforts.
“I feel like we are very strong,” Watkins said as he looked ahead to the final.
“Spain have had some tough games and had to come through a harder journey than us. The so-called bigger teams.
"I see what the boss is saying, I think they've been the best team in the tournament so far.
“The wingers for Spain, they are very dynamic, young and full of confidence. Across our team, we have goals from everywhere, it's going to be an exciting match to watch and be a part of.
“Hopefully, we can get the job done.”
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Olmo warns Spain to be 'careful' of Bellingham ahead of Euro 2024 final
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Declan Rice said that he is still haunted by the Euro 2020 final, which England lost on penalties to Italy, as the squad eye redemption.
“To be fair, I've not had the conversation with many of them,” Watkins said about the Euro final three years ago.
“When you play the game and it means so much, you take the experience from that so you don't make the same mistakes.
“The last Euros is firmly on the lads' minds and we will work hard on Sunday.”
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