Ollie Watkins compares England to Real Madrid as the Three Lions' goal hero hails nation's way to win 'even if we are playing poorly' ahead of Euro 2024 final

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Ollie Watkins says England are like serial winners Real Madrid — they get the job done.

The Aston Villa striker was the 90th-minute hero in the semi-final win over the Netherlands, and he was not the first player to rescue his country with a late goal here in Germany.

England played poorly in the group stages and then in the knockout games against Slovakia and Switzerland, needing Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka to intervene and keep them in the tournament.

But now they face Spain in the final in Berlin on Sunday, and Watkins says England see themselves as similar to Bellingham’s Madrid, who won the Champions League, LaLiga and Spanish Super Cup last season.

‘If it was related to club football, you see someone like Real in a Champions League game, they are comfortable without the ball, they have that confidence that when they get the ball, they are going to score,’ said Watkins.

England hero Ollie Watkins compared his nation's performances at Euro 2024 to Real Madrid

Watkins was making the point ahead of England's Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday

Watkins compared England's ability to win even when not at their best to that of Jude Bellingham's Real Madrid team

‘I feel like it is the same here. We are hard to beat, and then we just need that one chance and we can win the game. It doesn’t matter if we are playing poorly or if players are having an off day, we still have that world-class talent where we can pop up and get that goal.’ 

Watkins was still smiling when he spoke to the media here in Blankenhain on Friday, 48 hours after coming off the bench to smash his winner against the Dutch.

He said: ‘I was speaking Harry Kane at breakfast and I was trying to soak it all in, because those moments don’t come around very often. We are in this bubble. Next thing you know, we’re back on the bus playing Uno!

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‘Dean Henderson said it was the best moment of his career —and he didn’t even score the goal! It’s been an unbelievable feeling. I wasn’t shocked that I did that really, because I have full belief I was going to score.

‘I’ve watched the goal back a few times now, more than normal! A good friend said he felt like I would score in the Euros final. I did it the match before, but you never know, I might be saving another one for Sunday. Whatever you put into the universe, you can get back.’

Watkins came on in the group match against Denmark and missed a chance when sent clear. There was a feeling his Euros could be over given the subsequent impact of Ivan Toney, but Watkins never lost faith. 

‘We’ve been working so hard — we’re regular starters for our clubs, the players who haven’t played, and it is hard to adapt,’ he said. ‘But the boys who haven’t played have had such a big part to play, pushing the starters in training.

‘Kieran Trippier gave a good speech after his 50th cap [against Denmark]. He said in the last Euros he played one group game, the quarter-final and the final. As much as it doesn’t seem like you’re involved, you have to be ready. I’ve got that fire in my belly and I’m ready whenever called upon.’

The Aston Villa striker was the 90th-minute hero in the semi-final win over the Netherlands

Watkins also reflected on his own journey. He was playing non-league with Weston-super-Mare eight years ago. ‘I remember when we played Ebbsfleet away,’ he said.

‘I scored and ran off, pulling my shirt up and there was one fan in the away end! That was my first goal for Weston. We had a long bus journey home. JR, the kit man, who has passed away now, used to make us potato and beans and cheese on the bus.

‘It’s memories like that. It’s very different to the semi-final, him making us a pre-match meal. We got a half-cooked potato with some beans out the tin. Then we turn up and play. I remember one lad who turned up to the bus and he had paint all over his hands because he’d just been painting as his main job! Simple things like that, really good times.’

Win on Sunday, and the good times would never have felt so good.