Gary Lineker shares whether Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins could start the Euro 2024 final now 

Gary Lineker has delivered his verdict on Ollie Watkins’ chances of starting the Euro 2024 final after the Aston Villa striker’s late heroics for England last night.

Ollie Watkins had playe🌱d just 20 minutes at the tourname🙈nt in Germany ahead of England’s semi-final clash against the Netherlands.

The Aston Villa star has had to wait patiently for another opportunity after his cameo display against Denmark in the group stages, with Gareth Southgate preferring Ivan Toney in the knockout stages. 

Watkins was introduced for Harry Kane in last night’s semi-final and grabbed his opportunity with both hands. The striker netted a dramatic late winner for England to book their place in this Sunday’s final in Berlin🦩. 

After Kane had cancelled out the Netherlands’ opener, England were well on top for la꧅rge parts of the game, with 🐲Phil Foden going close on a couple of occasions.

But with Ronald Koeman’s men threatening to score a late 🍸winner themselves, Southg🧔ate turned towards his bench and introduced Watkins and Chelsea star Cole Palmer. 

The duo linked up for the winner and after an impressive cameo display from Watkins, Lineker has shared his thoughts on the possibility of the striker starting in the Euro 2024 final. 

READ MORE: Jude Bellingham says what people don’t un꧅derstand about Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins after his England winner

Lineker delivers Watkins verdict after England book Euro 2024 final spot

Speaking on , Linek🧜er reacted to last night’s dramatic semi-final victory over the Net𓆏herlands.

The former England star admitted he’s been desperate to see more of Watkins throughout the tournament and feels he could be an option to start ♚in Sunday’s🌳 final in Berlin.

“The one thing I know about is how to play up front and how as a striker you can help your team and that’s why I have been calling for Ollie Watkins and saying that you 🎐can take your main man off and you could even start with Ollie Watkins,” Lineker said.

“He has not probably got the all round finishing ability tha🌱t Harry Kane has got, although boy what a finish that was, but he gives you different things.

“You can press dynamically, 𝔉he can spin in behind, as he did and all of a sudden what happens with a striker who forces defenders to go towards their own goal is that is creates more space behind for those midfield players with all the talent in the world that they have got. Bellingham and Pa🐷lmer.

“It gives you so much more in terms of overall for the team and it’s the team game and the team that is the most important thing and not individuals and that’s why however difficult it is to say, that is why I kept saying don’t rule out that option ♔because it’s really important.

“I was so pleased for Ollie Watkins because what a season he has had at Ast♋on Vil🦩la, so many goal involvements and goals created, he runs himself ragged in every game I see, he gets behind people and he deserved his moment.”

READ MORE: As🤪ton Villa’s Ollie Watkins shares what he told Cole Palmer before scoring winner at Euro 2024 vs Netherlands

Will Gareth Southgate drop Harry Kane?

It feels highly unlikely that Southgate will consider dropping his capt🦋ain for Sunday’s final, despite Kane being well below his best at the to𝓡urnament so far.

But after Watkins’ heroics from the bench last night, you’d imagine that the Villa star will have a role to pla꧟y from the bench once again.

The 28-yea💎r-old is coming off the back of an excellent campaign at Villa Park and produced a stunning finish to book England’s spot in the final.

South𝔍gate has been criticised for his in-game management throughout the tournament and many have called for Watkins to get a chance amid Kane’s concerning performances.

It’s fair to say that the England boss’꧃ substitutions worked perfectly last night and Watkins will be hoping to play his part this weekend.