Yahoo News Alan Shearer's X-rated reaction to Ollie Watkins' England Euro 2024 heroics
Ollie Watkins’ name is the hottest in world football right now. The Aston Villa striker’s lethal finish in the last minute of Wednesday night’s Euro 2024 semi-final victory over The Netherlands put England into an overseas final for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Watkins claims he ‘manifested’ the goal, telling team-mate Cole Palmer that he knew the Chelsea star would set him up and they’d end the night as heroes – and vindicate embattled manager Gareth Southgate in the meantime.
The reaction has been extraordinary, from his own club, to fans, even to Prince William, everyone has had their say on arguably the most clinical piece of finishing of the competition. But there is perhaps, no higher praise than that of a man who has been there and done it – and not gone as far as Watkins.
READ MORE: There's one big reason Aston Villa can ignore the inevitable Ollie Watkins transfer tsunami
RFAD MORE: Chris Heck promises to 'protect' loyalty amid £400m Aston Villa plan
Alan Shearer, a team-mate of Southgate’s when the Three Lions reached the semi-finals in Euro 1996, also took to social media to laud the 28-year-old, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “Just finished on @bbc5live and got to say OLLIE WATKINS you f——- beauty. The touch,turn and finish.” He followed that up with a string of clapping emojis
Shearer, now a respected pundit, bagged 30 goals for his country and while Watkins has only four and many never get close to the 53-year-old’s tally, he has at least reached a platform that Shearer’s generation never did.
