Ollie Watkins says he told Cole Palmer before the Euro 2024 semi-final that he would set him up for his first goal of the tournament.
England booked a spot in the final for the second Euros in a row thanks to a dramatic late goal courtesy of Aston Villa striker and Three Lions super-sub Watkins.
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Watkins and Palmer combined brilliantly to send England to the Euros finalCredit: Getty
With extra time beckoning, Chelsea star Palmer fed Watkins a delicious through-ball.
The striker then turned, before quickly slotting the ball past Bart Verbruggen and into the bottom left-hand corner from a tight angle.
But whilst the England substitute’s finish blew England fans in Dortmund and at home away, it didn’t surprise the man that put the ball into the back of the net.
Speaking to ITV after the game, Watkins revealed: “I swear on my kids’ life, I told Cole Palmer earlier today, we’d be coming on and he’d set me up and I’d score. And it happened.”
He added of his match-winning heroics: “I’m lost for words, really. When you score there are emotions that come through your body but this is a different feeling.
“It was slow motion when I was running over to the boys and celebrating.
“I didn’t want to get off the pitch at the end because I wanted to soak it all in because it doesn’t happen very often really.
“The goal is my bread and butter, running in behind and causing defence trouble.
“I said to Cole we were both going to get on the pitch and he was going to set me up at half-time. It happened. I manifested it.
“As soon as he turned I knew to make the move. You don’t get that opportunity very often. I had to be greedy.
“I’ve seen it go in the bottom corner. I don’t think I’ve hit the ball that sweet before in such a special moment.”
Watkins and Palmer were on the pitch for just nine minutes, but Gareth Southgate’s substitutes rose to be the heroes to seal a spot in the final against Spain this Sunday.
Harry Kane had brought the Three Lions level from the penalty spot in the first half following Xavi Simon’s thunderbolt of an opener to make it 1-1.
The England captain had collided into by Denzel Dumfries in the box after getting a shot away, with a penalty being controversially given following a VAR review.
Watkins then got the job done for England, putting second-half pressure from Netherlands to bed.
The striker has now featured twice at Euro 2024, coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Denmark as well.
Palmer, meanwhile, has played four games, also coming off the bench each time.
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Watkins and Palmer worked together to create a moment for England’s history books
England’s winner on Wednesday marked each stars first goal contribution of the tournament – and what a time it was to get them.
The Three Lions’ final foes Spain saw off 2022 World Cup finalists France 2-1 on Tuesday.
They also came back from going 1-0 down, with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo’s goals sending them into the final.
But should Watkins and Palmer be able to envision combining in the way they did in Dortmund in Berlin, England’s men have a chance of sealing European glory for the very first time.
talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday as England bid to make history against Spain. Tune in via the website or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all the build-up.
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