Ollie Watkins reveals he PREDICTED scoring late winner against the Netherlands to book England’s spot in the Euro 2024 final – and even told Cole Palmer he’d set him up!

England have reached the Euro 2024 final after super-sub Ollie Watkins fired home a last-gasp winner against Holland to send the nation into delirium.

Gareth Southgate’s side have become the first England team in history to reach the final of a major tournament overseas where they will face Spain in Berlin on Sunday.

And Watkins emerged as the team’s unlikely hero striking home a brilliant winner following fellow substitute Cole Palmer’s pass.

‘Unbelievable, I’ve been waiting for that moment for weeks’ said Watkins.

‘It’s taken a lot of hard work to get where I am today, grateful that I got the opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands. I’m delighted.’

Ollie Watkins’ introduction in the 81st minute helped change the game for the Three Lions

The Aston Villa striker’s inch-perfect shot came at the end of normal time and proved the vital decider

Watkins was named Player of the Match for his last-gasp contributions against the Netherlands

Watkins also revealed that he predicted he would come off the bench and score in Wednesday night’s semi-final: ‘I swear on my life, I swear on my kids’ life, I said to Cole Palmer, we’re coming on and you’re going to set me up today.

‘And that’s why I was so happy. I knew as soon as he got the ball he was going to play me and then you’ve got to be greedy: touch and finish.

‘And when I seen it go in the bottom corner… oh my life.

‘I’m lost for words, when you score there’s emotions that come through your body but this is just a different feeling it was like slow motion. I didn’t want to leave the pitch I just wanted to soak it all in. I don’t think I’ve hit a ball that sweet.’

Aston Villa striker Watkins admitted that his euphoric winner was a scenario beyond his wildest dreams.

‘I didn’t dream about that to be honest as a kid, I can’t lie to you and say I dreamed about that,’ he added.

The 28-year-old insists that he had prophesised the goal with fellow substitute Cole Palmer

Watkins was keen to urge England to block out the noise around tournament performances and look ahead to the final

‘I didn’t think I would be doing it in a tournament like that. I never thought I would be playing in the Euros for England. You can dream but I’m a realist, I take it day by day.

‘I’ve put in a lot of hard work to get to this point. I’m going to enjoy every moment.

‘Recently I have obviously got a bit frustrated. I don’t like to be on the bench, I have had the best season of my career. A few friends messaged me and said be patient and the amount of people who messaged me tonight saying I would score when I come on was ridiculous.

‘Hopefully they can do the same for the final or give me the lottery numbers!’

Southgate, who led England to a World Cup semi-final and a Euros final, said: ‘It has to be the best [achievement] it’s another landmark, the way we played throughout the game, we played so well, it was a complicated game, they kept changing, we had to change how we played defensively but I thought we caused them problems all night.

Gareth Southgate was impressed with his side for showing character at the Westfalenstadion

‘I hope they are enjoying a few beers back home, we had some incredible nights over the past eight years.

‘I took the job to try and be a success. We showed character.’

Southgate celebrated with England fans at the end as he continued to repair the rift with supporters that as apparent at the start of the tournament.

‘We all want to be loved, right? When your a proud Englishman an all you read is criticism its is hard – so to be able to give them nights like this means a lot.

‘If I hadn’t been on the grass I would would have been watching and celebrating like they were. We are like kindred spirits in many ways.’

On his two substitutes Watkins and Palmer combining, Southgate added: ‘Sometimes it can work that way. The most important thing is the squad are ready to come into the game.’

Three Lions captain Harry Kane was keen to stress that what the team has done in Germany has been an ‘amazing achievement’

Captain Harry Kane added: ‘History made. Amazing achievement. I’m so proud of everyone, so proud of all the staff.

‘It’s been a real difficult tournament and to do what we’ve done away from home is amazing and we have that feeling that there’s one left, we need to win that final on Sunday.’

On the controversial decision to award England a penalty via VAR after Denzel Dumfries fouled Kane in the box, Holland boss Ronald Koeman added: ‘In England they would not give such a penalty.’