Should Ollie Watkins count it as a blessing that he wasn’t in the England squad for Euro 2020?
Ollie Watkins had just finished his first-ever season in the Premier League with Aston Villa when he earned the call. Gareth Southgate contacted the striker and said he’d made his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2020. This was a dream come true for the Newton Abbot-born forward, but one that turned sour when he wasn’t taken in the final squad for the tournament. However, this could have been a blessing in disguise. Had Watkins been named by Southgate, there is little chance that he would have earned any pitch time.
England Make Final Thanks to Kane’s Form
For the first time since 1966, England have made it to the final of a major international tournament. Harry Kane has been one of the key reasons why the Three Lions have got that far, and also tips the scales slightly in England’s favour when it comes to the Italy v England betting. Southgate’s side can be backed at 17/10, while Roberto Mancini’s men are at odds of 19/10.
During England’s progression to the final at Wembley, Kane has been the main focal point of Southgate’s attack. This has come as no surprise to anyone, with the Tottenham Hotspur striker enjoying one of his best-ever club seasons in the lead-up to the tournament. However, some may have expected the manager to mix up his formations and allow other strikers a chance in the side. Dominic Calvert Lewin only made two substitute appearances in the lead-up to the final, with a total of 18 minutes pitch time.
Had Watkins been selected for the final squad, it is assumed that he would have been the third-choice striker behind the Everton man. In that scenario, the Aston Villa sharpshooter would have been lucky to get any playing minutes at all.
Watkins Has Had a Meteoric Rise Since Exeter City
Watkins shouldn’t feel too dismayed at having missed out on an England call-up this time out, as there are likely to be many more chances for the player in the years ahead. His rise to the top has been incredible so far, and the future looks bright for the player.
Watkins first started making a name for himself at Exeter City, after developing in the youth setup at the League Two club. He spent three years as a Grecians player, before attracting the attention of bigger fish in the upper echelons of the football pyramid.
The 25-year-old then became a key player at Brentford between 2017 and 2020, leading to his signing for Villa for £28 million when the Birmingham-based club made the step up to the top flight. After seamlessly raising his game for the Premier League with 14 goals, Watkins has shown he has a bright future ahead of him.
Watkins may feel dismayed that he missed out on the chance to live through this amazing tournament with the England squad, but he will most certainly get another opportunity in the future. All he needs to do is carry on improving and Southgate will not be able to ignore him next time.
