Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Aston Villa fans will love what Jude Bellingham was doing after England beat Netherlands at Euro 2024
Jude Bellingham may have made his way onto Aston Villa fans’ good books despite his Birmingham City allegiances.
The Englishman started for England in their semi-final clash against the Netherlands on Wednesday night. The Real Madrid star often makes the headlines for being the star of the show, but it was Villa’s own Ollie Watkins who stole the spotlight.
The 28-year-old came off the bench for the Three Lions late in the game. It looked like England and Netherlands were set to battle it out in extra time and perhaps even in a penalty shootout.
However, Watkins stepped up and scored the winner in the 90th minute of the game to send England to the final of Euro 2024.
What Jude Bellingham did that Aston Villa fans and Ollie Watkins will love
Watkins has become a national hero overnight.
The England international has had an unbelievable 12 months. He scored 27 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions for Aston Villa in the 2023/24 season to help them qualify for the Champions League.
Watkins has had to spend most of his time on the bench at Euro 2024, but after getting the nod for the final nine minutes of normal time against the Netherlands, he made the most of it.
Following the game, Watkins has earned praise from many people including Prince William. Even Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison sent a message to Watkins.
At Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday night, England fans serenaded Watkins with love and continuously sang his song after the full-time whistle.
One video posted by 433 on Instagram shows Bellingham singing along with supporters as he jumped up and down in celebration.
Villa fans don’t really like Birmingham City or anyone associated with the club, but we’re sure they’d be happy to see Bellingham showing Watkins some much-deserved love.
READ MORE: Jude Bellingham shares what people don’t understand about Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins
How Gareth Southgate could accommodate Watkins in England XI for Euro 2024 final
England boss Gareth Southgate is under pressure to give Watkins a start now.
The Aston Villa striker showed his class after coming on against the Netherlands. He caused the Dutch all sorts of problems, and he’s the sort of player who could trouble Spain’s defence too.
The problem for Southgate, however, is to find a way to accommodate Watkins. Before someone says Harry Kane should be dropped – the England boss is never going to do that, especially in the biggest game of the tournament.
That means someone else will have to drop out and England will have to change their system to one that allows two strikers to play together.
Seeing how much Kane loves to drop deep and occupy similar areas of the pitch to Phil Foden, we think Southgate should drop the Manchester City man for Watkins in the final.
That will give Kane more room to link play up and Watkins’ runs in behind will open up the game for the Three Lions.
However, as things stand, we just can’t see Southgate making any changes to his side. We expect the same team to start in the final against Spain on Sunday.
READ MORE: Gary Lineker shares whether Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins could start the Euro 2024 final now