Rising to Fame with a Last-minute Victory! Watkins Saves Bellingham; Championship Equals Ballon d’Or?

The trend in the Euros is comebacks, but even more so, last-minute winners!

In the early hours of July 11th, the second semi-final of the Euros kicked off. Thanks to Watkins’ decisive goal in the 90th minute, England staged a 2-1 comeback against the Netherlands, advancing to the final once again. Southgate’s miraculous substitutions washed away his past shame, and Bellingham’s dream of the Ballon d’Or continues.

As one of the favorites to win this Euros, England, with its impressive lineup, had yet to demonstrate convincing performance. With only one win and two draws in the group stage, they stumbled into the Round of 16. In the Round of 16 match against Slovakia, it was Bellingham’s overhead kick that saved the day, leveling the score, followed by Kane’s extra-time winner, allowing them to advance with a scare.

In the previous match against a formidable Switzerland, England conceded first. It was Saka’s turn to save the day, and through his outstanding performance in the penalty shootout, they staged another remarkable comeback, securing their place in the semi-finals of the Euros. Many fans were vocal about their belief that Southgate was not worthy of this England team, suggesting that the Three Lions would likely be sent home when faced with true powerhouses.

In this match against the Netherlands, England conceded first once again. Simmons’ stunning goal in the opening seven minutes pushed the Three Lions to the brink. Perhaps due to having played too many games against the odds, the England players and coaching staff remained calm. Kane quickly earned a penalty to level the score, stabilizing the team’s morale.

In the first half, Foden’s resurgence invigorated the attack. Mount and Rice controlled the midfield with confidence, as England’s offense was fierce, at times dominating the Netherlands. If not for Dumfries’ goal-line clearance and the post coming to the rescue, perhaps the Three Lions wouldn’t have had to struggle as much.

Upon returning from halftime, England failed to maintain the momentum from the first half, engaging in a seesaw battle with the Netherlands. At this point, Southgate, who had been criticized for being afraid to upset the big names, displayed unprecedented courage and decisiveness, making two substitutions in the 80th minute. Goalscorer Kane and the resurgent Foden were taken off, replaced by Palmer and Watkins.

The 28-year-old Watkins has a late-bloomer feel to him. Last season, he made 53 appearances for Villa, contributing 27 goals and 13 assists, including 19 goals and 13 assists in the Premier League, ranking fourth in the scoring charts and first in assists. However, in the past five Euros matches, Watkins had only made one appearance, playing just 15 minutes.

Many pundits and prominent journalists advocated for him, arguing that Southgate was stubborn and rigid in his selections, stating that Watkins deserved more playing time. As the saying goes, use good steel where it counts, and Southgate’s bold substitutions paid off immediately:

In the 90th minute, Palmer delivered a diagonal pass into the box from the right flank. Watkins held off his marker before suddenly accelerating and turning away from Ake. He took a shot from a tight angle, catching Verbruggen off guard. The Dutch goalkeeper was half a beat too slow, and the ball nestled into the bottom left corner!

Watkins became the second player since Lahm in 2008 to score a last-minute winner in the knockout stages of the Euros, helping England resolve the battle before extra time began. For three consecutive matches, Southgate’s miraculous substitutions turned the tide, shedding the label of incompetence.

Interestingly, with England advancing to the final, the biggest beneficiary may well be Bellingham. Why is that?

In the 23/24 season, Bellingham made an impressive start upon joining Real Madrid, delivering stellar performances and winning the Champions League, La Liga, and the Spanish Super Cup. However, in this Euros campaign, while Bellingham contributed two goals, his performance did not meet expectations, drawing criticism that his €180 million price tag was overvalued.

But with Mbappe exiting the Euros at the semi-finals and Vinicius eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Copa America, Bellingham has emerged as the leading contender for the Ballon d’Or. Should England ultimately triumph, he would hold both the Champions League and Euros titles, potentially replicating Ronaldo’s feat in 2016 by winning the Ballon d’Or.