Ollie Watkins, the Aston Villa striker who scored England's dramatic winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, has declared that every member of the squad is "crucial" for the World Cup campaign. Under manager Thomas Tuchel, the role of substitutes—or "finishers," as Tuchel calls them—has become more important than ever.
Tuchel's 'Finisher' Philosophy
Tuchel has emphasized relying on substitutes to change games, a strategy that paid off in England's recent match against Croatia. The manager introduced Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Morgan Rogers to help secure the victory, with Djed Spence also coming on late. Watkins expressed his excitement about the depth of the squad: "I think everyone is crucial in this squad. The squad that we have and the players coming off the bench, I was really excited, 60, 70 minutes and he was changing the whole front three. Bringing on pacey players that just want to run forward, score more goals and it’s exciting. Everyone’s got a big part to play."
Watkins on Harry Kane
Watkins acknowledged that he is behind captain Harry Kane in the pecking order but insisted he offers a different style of play. "I think with H, his performances speak for themselves, his goal record speaks for itself and he’s very unique in the way that he plays. He’s very intelligent and I can’t play like him. I stick to what I can do, so I don’t try to copy him or do anything like that. I stick to my strengths really," Watkins said.
Saka's Fitness Boost
Watkins also provided a positive update on Bukayo Saka, suggesting the Arsenal winger trained ahead of England's friendly against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday. Saka had missed training on Saturday to follow his own programme, but Watkins confirmed: "He hasn’t missed a day of training so that's a good thing. He's a top quality player and he brings quality to the pitch for Arsenal and England as everyone can see. Managing niggles is very important for a major tournament. I've only played with him a handful of times and I feel he always makes the right decision. That’s the hardest thing to do in football."
World Cup Ambitions
With the World Cup underway, Watkins is determined to replicate his Euro 2024 heroics. The 28-year-old's winner against the Netherlands propelled England to the final, and he hopes to make a similar impact from the bench this summer. Tuchel's trust in his squad depth has given Watkins and other substitutes a clear mandate to influence games.
