Ollie Watkins emerged as the unlikely hero after coming on as a late substitute after his 90th-minute goal helped England clinch a dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands and seal a spot in the Euro 2024 final.
Watkins had played just 20 minutes in Germany – in the group stage against Denmark. He was introduced after 80 minutes as the game hung in the balance at 1-1 with extra time looming.
On for Harry Kane, who had earlier equalised for England following a contentious VAR penalty call, Watkins received a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer with his back to goal, turned and fired low into the far corner to stun the Dutch and send the Three Lions through to a title clash with Spain.
Who is Ollie Watkins?
Watkins, 28, plays his club football in England for Aston Villa. He ended the 2023/24 season as joint-fourth top scorer in the Premier League with 19 goals.
Watkins has come a long way since his early days when, as a teenager still learning his trade as a striker, he was sent on loan to English sixth-tier club Weston-super-Mare in 2015.
A product of the Exeter City academy, Watkins signed a contract with the club operating in England's third division in 2014 but found first-team chances hard to come by, prompting the loan to Weston.
After returning to Exeter ahead of the 2015/16 season, he began breaking into the starting XI and climbed up the ladder. His next big move came in 2017 when Watkins joined Championship club Brentford on a four-year contract.
He hit his stride in the 2019/20 season, making 50 appearances for the Bees, scoring 26 goals in all competitions. The season ended in heartbreak as Brentford lost the Championship play-off final to Fulham.
Breakthrough
Then came the breakthrough moment. In September 2020, Watkins joined Premier League club Aston Villa on a five-year contract for a then club-record fee of £28 million.
Watkins enjoyed a stellar 2023/24 season, providing 13 assists as well as scoring 19 goals in the Premier League that helped Unai Emery's side finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
In total, Watkins has made 146 appearances for Villa, scoring 59 goals.
Despite his impressive club form, Watkins has found chances with England few and far between. His goal against the Netherlands was just his fourth for England in 14 appearances. Two of them came against San Marino, the world’s lowest-ranked team.
What they said
Watkins: "I said to Cole [Palmer] that we were both going to go on the pitch and he was going to set me up, at half time. It happened, I manifested it and as soon as he turned I knew I needed to make a move. You don't get that opportunity very often so I had to be greedy, I had to take it.
"After seeing it go into the bottom corner I don't think I've hit a ball that sweetly before. Obviously it's such a special moment.
"I didn't dream about that to be honest. I can't lie and say I did. Scoring for England is amazing but I didn't think I'd do it in a tournament like that."
Gareth Southgate: "We just felt energy-wise we were starting to lose pressure. Harry [Kane] got a knock in the first half as well and, of course, Ollie can press well, he can make those runs in behind like he did. We thought it was a good moment to try it.
"Very, very special for him."
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 3/5
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Read more from Kareem Shaheen
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Company profile
Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Scoreline
Saudi Arabia 1-0 Japan
Saudi Arabia Al Muwallad 63’
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
