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    Watch adorable moment Aston Villa star’s son sings Ollie Watkins song after England hero’s goal against Netherlands

    ASTON VILLA’S Emi Buendia’s son showed his appreciation for his dad’s team-mate by singing his song after his wondergoal against the Netherlands.The striker was brought on for Harry Kane last night and only had four touches – one of which was to fire the ball into the bottom corner at the death.Emi Buendia’s son sang an Ollie Watkins chant after he scored the winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finalCredit: Instagram @em10buendiaBuendia’s son sung ‘Ollie Watkins du du du’Credit: Instagram @em10buendiaWatkins scored a 90th-minute winner on Wednesday night to see England face Spain on SundayEmi Buendia and Ollie Watkins are team-mates at Aston VillaCredit: EPAWatkins’ 90th-minute winner means the Three Lions march on to Berlin to face Spain on Sunday.But his sensational impact seemed unlikely ahead of the semi-final as he had only featured for 20 minutes off the bench in England’s group-stage draw with Denmark.And after his spectacular finish Villa team-mate and midfielder Buendia filmed his son chanting “Ollie Watkins du du du. Ollie Watkins du du du,” – a song commonly sung at Villa Park.One fan said the heartfelt clip was “the best thing you’ll see today”.READ MORE ON EURO 2024While another added: “Mini Buendia knows ball.”A third then put: “So bloody cute.”And a fourth then wept: “The most adorable thing.”England had plenty of concerns against the Dutch as they fell behind inside seven minutes.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSXavi Simons scored a sublime goal after dispossessing Declan Rice in midfield.However, the goal sparked the Three Lions into life, and they were level eleven minutes later.England stars celebrate reaching Euro 2024 final with Wags as Ollie Watkins kisses girlfriend after late winnerKane won a controversial penalty after being caught by Denzel Dumfries.The captain took the responsibility and converted from the spot with a tidy finish into the bottom left corner.Holland came out fighting in the second half to try and find a winner but it was not to be.Celebrating after being awarded MOTM Watkins walked into the stands to meet his loved ones.He was spotted sharing a big kiss with his partner Ellie Alderson and hugged another loved one as those around him applauded after his heroics.Prior to the semi-final, Watkins’ mum urged Gareth Southgate to play her son more as she gave an X-rated rant at a pub.Watkins is a product of the Exeter City academy and made his breakthrough at the club, winning the EFL Young Player of the Year award, before departing in 2017 for Brentford. READ MORE SUN STORIESHe had a successful three-year spell at the club, culminating in being the joint top-scorer in the 2019–20 Championship and being named Championship Player of the Year in 2020.The striker then signed for Villa in September 2020 and was just awarded Premier League Playmaker of the Season after scoring 19 goals and creating 13 assists this term.England vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain. More

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    ITV gain early edge over BBC for Euro 2024 final as broadcasting coverage plans are revealed

    FOOTBALL fans up and down the country are gearing up to see England in the Euro 2024 final this weekend – but must decide on which channel to watch it.Ahead of the Berlin clash against Spain, plans have been announced for the broadcasting coverage.England will play Spain in the Euro 2024 final on SundayCredit: AlamyITV have the upper hand for the broadcastCredit: RexBBC will be starting their coverage 30 minutes after ITVCredit: BBCBoth ITV and the BBC will show the game, unlike how they have each held individual rights for the fixtures during the rest of the tournament.But despite the two broadcasting giants sharing the coverage, ITV have already gained an advantage over their competitors.ITV will have begin their build-up to the big game 30 minutes before the BBC start theirs.The Beeb will begin their broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC One at 7pm, while fans can watch ITV’s pundits discuss the game from 6:30pm.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFans had their eyes glued to their screens last night as Ollie Watkins scored a 90th minute winner to book England’s place in Sunday’s final.In fact, a peak of 21.6 MILLION people watched the Three Lions get the better of Holland on ITV1 and ITVX.That’s the highest peak audience on a single channel since December 2022, when the nation watched England’s exit form the Qatar World Cup at the hands of France.England will be hoping they can lift the first men’s trophy since 1966 on Sunday in Berlin, after suffering heartbreak at Wembley in 2021.Most read in Euro 2024BBC and ITV’s Euro 2024 line up in fullHere’s how each channel will line-up:BBC presenters:Gary Lineker, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Mark ChapmanITV presenters:Mark Pougatch and Laura Woods BBC pundits:Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Ellen White, Frank Lampard, Ashley Williams, Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Frank, David Moyes, Rachel Corsie and James McFaddenITV pundits:Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglou, Danny Rohl and Christina UnkelBBC commentators:Guy Mowbray, Robyn Cowen, Vicki Sparks, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower and Jonathan PearceITV commentators:Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen and Joe SpeightBBC co-commentators:Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, Jermaine Jenas and James McFaddenITV co-commentators:Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Andros TownsendEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSBut they can be proud of the efforts so far as they have already made history.Gareth Southgate’s brave lions have become the first men’s team in England history to make a major final on foreign soil.Watch Roy Keane scream and swear at Gary Neville as he’s left on the floor during BBC vs ITV football match at Euro 2024While Southgate himself has become the first manager to reach two major finals while in charge of the nation.It won’t be easy on Sunday as they take on an in-form Spain side who have looked the best team at Euro 2024.Ollie Watkins booked England’s spot in the final with a dramatic late winnerCredit: GettyMillions of England fans had their eyes glued to the action last nightCredit: PAEngland ratings vs HollandENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.Jordan Pickford: 7Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.Kyle Walker: 7Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.John Stones: 7Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.Marc Guehi: 6Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.Bukayo Saka: 7Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.Declan Rice: 6Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.Kobbie Mainoo: 8Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.Kieran Trippier: 6We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.Phil Foden: 7The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.Jude Bellingham: 5Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.Harry Kane: 6Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.SUBSLuke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.Gareth Southgate: 8His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.  More

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    Watch Rio Ferdinand celebrate Ollie Watkins’ England winner surrounded by A-listers and football royalty including Adele

    RIO FERDINAND was in exclusive company as he celebrated England’s win over the Netherlands.The pundit shared a video of the aftermath of Ollie Watkins’ late winner.Rio Ferdinand celebrates England’s winnerCredit: instagram @rioferdy5Arsene Wenger fancied a chat about the goal, while Fabio Capell sat behind smilingCredit: instagram @rioferdy5Adele gave her vocal chords a workoutCredit: instagram @rioferdy5And fans spotted several famous faces in the footage.The pundit was sat next to fellow former Three Lions centre-back Sol Campbell.Ferdinand, 45, exclaimed: ” What did I say? What did I say.”He then gets a tap on the shoulder from legendary Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who unsurprisingly seemed to want to talk tactics.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Former England manager Fabio Capello was in the row behind.But the best was saved for last as Ferdinand’s Instagram video showed superstar songstress Adele in high spirits in front of him.Ed Sheeran was also in the stadium, while Olly Murs watched at BoxPark Wembley.BBC pundit Ferdinand was free to enjoy the game in the stands as ITV were showing the semi-final.Most read in SportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut Rio will be back on your screens with both broadcasters granted rights to the final.That ratings battle will take place at 8pm as England face Spain looking to end a 58-year trophy drought.Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions started the tournament slowly but have begun to improve in the knockout phase.They are now one game from writing themselves into the history books.But in their way are Spain, who have been the best team at the tournament and go into the weekend as favourites.You can say it hasn’t been pretty, but England are in the final… and we’re peaking at just the right time, says Jack WilshereAFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.There was no panic coming out of the camp.Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.You want to peak in the final.If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions…Watkins earned the plaudits last night as he fired home the winning goal in the 90th minute.However, Jude Bellingham starred after the final whistle as he made a classy gesture to the heartbroken Dutch stars.He initially fell to his knees and was congratulated by Anthony Gordon and Trent Alexander-Arnold.The Real Madrid man was then spotted shaking hands and hugging each of his opponents.Inside humble Ollie Watkins’ remarkable rise from non-league to England’s Euro 2024 heroNINE summers ago Ollie Watkins went on a lads’ holiday after helping to save Conference South side Weston-Super-Mare from relegation, writes Dan King.Now he’s just fired England into the Euro 2024 final with a sensational 90th-minute winner.And even helped Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League last season.Watkins arrived on the Somerset coast as a teenaged striker on loan from League Two Exeter in December 2014.His 10 goals in 24 league games were a big factor in stopping Weston from slipping into the sixth tier for the first time in their history – and in giving them something to celebrate on a post-season trip to Spain.But it was also his workrate and attitude that earned him the respect of the dressing room, and helped him take the first significant steps on the road to stardom.Ryan Northmore, boss of Weston at the time, said: “His goals saved the club from relegation. But he contributed much more than his goals, which is really important when you’re scrapping away for your lives.“He wasn’t just sat at the top of the pitch waiting for the ball to come. He would roll his sleeves up and get involved in all aspects of the game.”Days after joining, Watkins made an instant impact with an equaliser against Farnborough.Team-mate Tom Jordan said: “He always struck me as the kind of lad who had his eyes wide open to different aspects of the game.“Sometimes you would have loan lads come in from a League club to non-League and they would be looking at you like they were doing you a favour.“His attitude was very different. He was coming in thinking, ‘I’m going to learn from this experience’.”It was during Watkins’ spell at Weston that the then Walsall boss Dean Smith spotted him.Smith would later take the striker to Brentford and bring him to Villa, where he has reached new levels under current boss Unai Emery.But Watkins has never forgotten the part that Weston played in his rise to the top.One of his Villa shirts is on display there, he has spoken to young players coming through and happily tells the local press how important and enjoyable his time at the club was.And he even helped fund an end-of-season boys’ trip to Spain due to his fines for being late – although he was allowed to join the rest of the squad.Read all about Ollie Watkins’ incredible rise in full… More

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    England set for huge cash windfall if they beat Spain with Ollie Watkins’ Euro 2024 semi-final goal banking MILLIONS

    ENGLAND’S Euro 2024 run has already banked £20.4m for the FA.And that will go up by a further £2.5m if they lift the Henri Delaunay trophy in Berlin on Sunday.England have won over £20million at the EurosCredit: GettyGareth Southgate’s men will fall just £840,000 short of the maximum they could have earned from the tournament should England win their first trophy on foreign soil.That is because of the group stage draws against Denmark and Slovenia.England earned £7.8m for qualification, while the opening win over Serbia was worth £840,000.The two draws each earned £420,000 – the two teams shared the victory bonus – with qualification for the last 16 adding  £1.26m.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Reaching the last eight was worth £2.1m and beating Switzerland brought a further £3.4m.And Ollie Watkins’ stoppage time goal to see off the Dutch meant an extra £4.2m for reaching the final.The difference between being runners-up and winning the Final is an extra £2.5m.England face Spain in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe Spanish reached the last two after beating France 2-1 in the semi-final.The nation has won the competition three times in its history, with the first coming in 1964.Watch Jude Bellingham’s classy reaction to heartbroken Holland stars after England’s incredible last-gasp Euro 2024 win England’s route to the Euro 2024 finalENGLAND began their Euros final campaign in Germany on June 16.They then won the tournament back to back in 2008 and 2012.England made it to the final after seeing off Holland at the Signal Iduna Park.Harry Kane’s penalty cancelled out Xavi Simons’ opener before Ollie Watkins stole the headlines with a 90th-minute winner.A supercomputer has backed the Spanish to make it four tournament triumphs on Sunday.It suggested that England only have a 45.3 per cent chance of winning compared to Spain’s 54.7 per cent chance.England vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.England ratings vs HollandENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.Jordan Pickford: 7Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.Kyle Walker: 7Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.John Stones: 7Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.Marc Guehi: 6Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.Bukayo Saka: 7Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.Declan Rice: 6Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.Kobbie Mainoo: 8Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.Kieran Trippier: 6We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.Phil Foden: 7The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.Jude Bellingham: 5Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.Harry Kane: 6Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.SUBSLuke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.Gareth Southgate: 8His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.  More

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    Who are Ollie Watkins’ parents Steven and Delsi-May? Meet the England and Aston Villa forward’s mum and dad

    OLLIE Watkins last-gasp wonder goal against the Dutch sent the Three Lions to the final of Euro 2024.If you were wondering how the England ace got his start in football, here’s everything you need to know about his parents.Ollie Watkins celebrating with his mother Delsi-May in the stands following England’s semi-final victory over the NetherlandsCredit: PAWho are Ollie Watkins’ parents Steven and Delsi-May?England hero Oliver George Arthur Watkins was born in Torquay, Devon to parents Steven and Delsi-May on December 30, 1995.His parents divorced when he was a child — Ollie and his siblings were raised by their mother Delsi.Not much is known about his dad Steven, as he prefers to keep his personal information out of the public spotlight.Ollie has three brothers, Richie, Dale and Jordan, and a sister named Charlotte.READ MORE ON OLLIE WATKINSIn 2021, speaking about how her “football mad” boy got into the beautiful game, Delsi told the Times: “We used to take the kids out, and there was a little machine where you put a 2p in, and a little rubber ball fell out.“He’d stand there and you’d drop it, and he’d kick it. He never used to miss. He was only nine months old.“And he never wavered from saying, whenever I asked him what he wanted to do when he was older, ‘I want to be a professional footballer.’“He used to do a bit of skateboarding but that didn’t last long. He used to do BMX-ing but that didn’t last long either.Most read in Euro 2024“And every time he went out, he used to come back with a blinking football. “I’ve got a photograph somewhere of about 20-odd footballs that Oliver collected out playing.”RISE OF WATKINSAnd speaking about Ollie calling to inform her of his first call-up to the national side, she added: “I’m glad he did when I was in the car, because I let out the biggest scream.“If I’d have let that out in the street people would have said, ‘Find that woman a mental hospital!’”I still can’t believe it. I’m immensely proud.”Days before Ollie finally scored a last-gasp winner for the Three Lions on July 10, his mother was filmed launching an X-rated rant in a pub about her son’s lack of playing time.[Ollie] never wavered from saying, whenever I asked him what he wanted to do when he was older, ‘I want to be a professional footballer’Delsi-May WatkinsThe TimesShe said: “On Wednesday, [my wish is] that they finally let my son come on the f***ing pitch.”Delsi got her wish and Ollie went on to score the crucial goal.And she could be seen in the stands celebrating with her son after his 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands in the Euro2024 quarter-finals.The super-sub striker replaced Harry Kane and only made four touches after being brought on with 81 minutes on the the clock — one of which was to fire the ball into the bottom corner.Ollie’s superb finish sent England to the Euro 2024 final in Berlin against Spain on Sunday, July 14Credit: AFPOllie had a premonition he was going to score and revealed in his post-match press conference that he told Cole Palmer at half-time they were going to combine and score, before they went on to do so in spectacular fashion.He said: “I swear on my life, my kids’ life, I said to Cole Palmer: we’re coming on today and you’re gonna set me up.”The Aston Villa forward had played just 20 minutes at the Euros before he came off the bench against the Dutch.What does Ollie Watkins’ mum Delsi-May do for a living?The former Exeter and Brentford man’s mother works as a professional.Her stage name is Ruby Washington.Delsi’s band, The Superstitions, are a popular booking for weddings and events across Southwest England.In 2021, she told the Times: “That’s all I’ve ever done really, be a professional singer.“I got offered a recording contract when I was younger.”I had photographs taken and when they came back they all had Ruby Washington underneath them.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I said, ‘That’s not my name,’ and they said, ‘Well, that’s what we want you to be.’“The contract was the same. ‘Your life will be like this, you can’t do that . . .’ So I didn’t sign. But the name stuck.” More

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    Watch Sky Sports pundit’s incredible reaction to Watkins’ England winner just moments after predicting ‘a bit of magic’

    GARETH AINSWORTH produced a brilliant reaction to Ollie Watkins’ winning goal against Holland.The Aston Villa striker scored in the 90th minute to send England through to their second consecutive Euros final.Gareth Ainsworth was covering England’s match on Sky SportsCredit: Sky SportsHe was thrilled with Ollie Watkins’ winning goalCredit: GettyXavi Simons had given Holland the lead in the 7th minute before Harry Kane equalised from a controversial penalty.The Euro 2024 semi-final clash proved to be a tense affair with Watkins netting the decisive goal in the final moments.Ainsworth, 51, was covering the match for Sky Sports live in the studio.The former QPR manager’s reaction to the goal has been posted on social media.READ MORE IN EURO 2024In the clip, he can be heard saying that there needs to be “a bit of magic” from someone.Only seconds later, Cole Palmer was able to play in Watkins to score the winning goal.Ainsworth, in response, let out a massive celebratory roar as he rose to his feet.Fans loved the clip as they reacted to it.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSOne posted: “Sensational celebration.”A second wrote: “I love all the Gareth’s. National Gareth day please.”Adele fans spot her celebrating England’s Euros win in Rio Ferdinand’s video England’s controversial penaltyBy Mark HalseyHARRY KANE was gifted a penalty by controversial referee Felix Zwayer.If England had been on the receiving end of that decision, we would have been absolutely fuming.The German official, previously banned for six months for his part in a match-fixing scandal, should not have been sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR Bastian Dankert.Both Denzel Dumfries and Kane had their feet in the air as England’s captain got his shot away.It was just a clash of legs and certainly NOT a ‘clear and obvious error’.Once Zwayer went over to the monitor, we knew what was going to happen.He is an excellent referee but we have seen that none of the officials seem mentally tough enough to stick with their original call.I know some people will argue Dumfries was late to the tackle and it would have been a free-kick elsewhere on the pitch.But it is a contact sport and it’s natural that there will be a coming together in instances like that.Aside from the penalty award, Zwayer had a good game.There were fears decisions would go against England because of Jude Bellingham’s previous comments about Zwayer.Bellingham was fined £34,000 in 2021 for blaming Zwayer and his match-fixing past for Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich.But Zwayer was right to caution Bellingham for his reckless challenge on Stefan de Vrij in the second half.A third commented: “Fair play to Gareth there. At that exact moment I couldn’t string two words together, let alone coherent sentences.”A fourth said: “What great insight and sheer passion!”Another added: “Lovely content.”The winning goal sent fans, players and coaching staff into wild celebrations.Even England’s Dutch coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink got swept up in the moment before realising it came against his native country.Pundits Gary Neville and Ian Wright went wild in the ITV studio while Roy Keane remained his usual composed self.After the game, Watkins admitted that he had predicted that he would score the winner in a conversation with Cole Palmer.England face Spain in the final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday.READ MORE SUN STORIESSpain made it to the final after beating France 2-1 in the first semi-final.England vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.England ratings vs HollandENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.Jordan Pickford: 7Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.Kyle Walker: 7Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.John Stones: 7Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.Marc Guehi: 6Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.Bukayo Saka: 7Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.Declan Rice: 6Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.Kobbie Mainoo: 8Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.Kieran Trippier: 6We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.Phil Foden: 7The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.Jude Bellingham: 5Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.Harry Kane: 6Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.SUBSLuke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.Gareth Southgate: 8His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.  More

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    Watch Jordan Pickford absolutely lose it as he celebrates with fans after Ollie Watkins’ England winner vs Netherlands

    JORDAN PICKFORD celebrated wildly with England fans immediately after Ollie Watkins’ dramatic late winner in Dortmund.The brilliant moment had fans calling the goalkeeper “one of us”.Ollie Watkins scored a 90th-minute winner for England against NetherlandsCredit: APJordan Pickford ecstatically slid onto the floor celebrating the goalCredit: GettyThe Three Lions skipper has helped England reach back-to-back Euros finalsCredit: ReutersPickford is a fan-favourite among Three Lions supportersCredit: GettyGareth Southgate’s men came from behind to beat Holland 2-1 in their Euro 2024 semi-final on Wednesday evening as Aston Villa man Watkins clinched victory with a superb 90th-minute strike.And England keeper Pickford, 30, lost it when the ball hit the back of the net as he turned to face the Three Lions supporters and join in the jubilant scenes.Pickford slid on his knees and then spread out on the turf in a moment of ecstasy.He then got back to his feet before he screamed and punched the air in delight.READ MORE ON EURO 2024And fans on social media were absolutely loving his reaction.One said: “Literally a fan who becomes an England player. Love the lad.”Another added: “He truly is one of us.”A third replied: “Honestly might be my favourite. Mad as a box of frogs that lad.”Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhile a fourth responded: “Fella goes down as the best ever for this country.”Pickford was the hero for England in their quarter-final against Switzerland as he saved Manuel Akanji’s penalty in a 5-3 shoot-out victory.England fans gush ‘my manager’ as incredible footage emerges of Southgate going wild after reaching Euro 2024 final And in the semi-final, with England drawing 1-1 with Netherlands, he produced a smart stop to deny Virgil van Dijk.Pickford now has 67 caps since making his international debut under Southgate back in 2017.He is the first ever England keeper to reach the finals of two major tournaments.England’s route to the Euro 2024 finalENGLAND began their Euros final campaign in Germany on June 16. More

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    English Dream Team Euros gaffers face agonising head-or-heart decision ahead of Sunday’s final

    SPAIN v ENGLAND: a style clash for the ages.The final of Euro 2024 pits the best team at the tournament against a side that have developed a habit of well-timed magic moments.La Roja topped what appeared to be the toughest group on paper with Albania, Croatia and Italy for company before vanquishing Georgia, Germany and France in the more competitive side of the knockout draw.In contrast, the Three Lions have looked disjointed for the most part but Jude Bellingham’s (£6m) overhead kick, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s (£5m) winning penalty, and Ollie Watkins’ (£3.5m) last-gasp winner have been among the most dramatic moments of the summer.Choose your winnerCredit: Dream TeamEnglish Dream Team Euros managers now face an agonising head-or-heart decision ahead of Sunday’s final.Even the most partisan supporter of Gareth Southgate’s troops will admit that Spain have played the best football and, on current form, deserve to start as favourites in Berlin.But every football fan knows the best team doesn’t always win and finals are often tense and cagey, which tends to benefit the team more adept at the dark arts.Gaffers can hedge their bets to a certain extent but they should strive for the most cohesive XI possible.For example, a midfield that contains Rodri (£4m), Lamine Yamal (£4m), Declan Rice (£3m) and Jude Bellingham (£6m) is perfectly viable as all four players could provide decent returns regardless of the result – through tackles, bonus points, etc.But a team stacked with Spain attackers and an all-England defence is counter-intuitive – if one of those units succeeds, the other is highly likely to fail.Most read in FootballSouthgate has been criticised but his side have made another Euros finalCredit: GettyDream Team Euros bosses who need something special from the final Matchday might as well gamble on one of the teams keeping a clean sheet by selecting Unai Simon (£4m) or Jordan Pickford (£4m) with the corresponding defence.For gaffers leading their Mini Leagues with a relatively comfortable cushion, it’s more feasible to split allegiances.TOP DREAM TEAM EUROS PERFORMERS AMONG SPAIN AND ENGLAND PLAYERS:Dani Olmo (£4m) – 48 ptsFabian Ruiz (£3.5m) – 42 ptsLamine Yamal (£4m) – 41 ptsJude Bellingham (£6m) – 39 ptsHarry Kane (£7.5m) – 37 ptsEngland’s captain is a particularly intriguing case study.Kane looks immobile, fatigued and/or injured but it’s simply a fact that no player has scored more goals at the tournament ahead of Sunday’s showdown.The 30-year-old displayed his poacher’s instincts with opportunistic strikes against Denmark and Slovakia before a well-struck penalty against Netherlands, albeit from a fortunate decision upon VAR review.Watkins scored England’s dramatic winner in the semi-finalCredit: GettyThat it was Watkins, Kane’s direct replacement, who fired England into the final is unlikely to impact Southgate’s starting line-up.The long-serving coach has remained loyal to his favourite players (some would argue to a fault) and so it would be an uncharacteristic decision to drop England’s all-time top scorer for such an occasion.Despite his sluggish performances, Kane is the third-best striker in Dream Team Euros (top among players still active) and nine points clear of counterpart Alvaro Morata (£5.5m).READ MORE SUN STORIESHelpfully, gaffers will be informed of the confirmed line-ups for both teams just prior to Sunday’s 7pm deadline.And it should go without saying that any remaining Boosters should now be activated – 12th Man will come in handy for those unable to reach a fully active XI through transfers alone.Ollie Watkins’ incredibly specific prediction comes true after just 9 minutes as sub scores sensational England winner More