Ollie Watkins previews England's date with destiny in Euro24 final against Spain
12/07/2024
Blankenhaim, Germany
12/07/2024
Blankenhaim, Germany
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Blankenheim for this media conference with Oli Watkins.
00:13As ever we can keep it to three questions per person then we'll just ensure we can get
00:16around as many of you as possible.
00:19So we'll start with Alex Howell and sorry just a reminder we'll have an embargo section
00:23at the end as well until 10.30.
00:26Oli, congratulations for the goal the other night.
00:29How's it been coming down the emotions after something that dramatic?
00:35Yeah, it's been an unbelievable feeling to be honest.
00:40One that I was taken back by the goal but also I wasn't shocked that I did that really
00:50because I have full belief in myself.
00:51I knew when I was going onto the pitch that I was going to score.
00:55I manifested it, I had worked very hard to get to that point so it's been an amazing
01:03feeling but I'm not shocked.
01:05That was kind of my next question.
01:08After doing something like that you said you manifested it but does it give you even more
01:11belief heading into the final that you could have a similar impact?
01:14Yeah, definitely.
01:15I've got that fire in my belly ready whenever I'm called upon and hopefully I get the call
01:24to come onto the pitch again and then hopefully I can produce.
01:30You celebrated with the subs because you said you know yourself how difficult it is when
01:34you're not playing, when you're used to having regular game time.
01:37Did any of them say anything to you about how much it meant to them that you ran towards them?
01:42Not really but Dean Henderson said he thinks that's the best moment of his career and he
01:49didn't even score the goal which was nice but we've been working so hard day in day out.
01:56A lot of people don't see that but across the season we're here on merit because everyone's
02:00had a good season with their clubs and we're regular starters, the players that haven't
02:05been playing so it definitely is hard to adapt when you're not playing but training every
02:13day and them intense sessions, especially after winning and getting back late from games,
02:19you're up again early in the morning and back to the grind.
02:23The boys that even haven't played a minute have had such a big part to play, pushing
02:28the starters every day in training and being true professionals so everyone's together
02:37and I think it's brought the groups so much closer.
02:42Oli, hi, good luck Sunday.
02:44You're probably aware of tonight's fixture, Exeter City at Weston-Super-Mare.
02:49Are the stars aligning?
02:51I do keep track but I didn't realise that.
02:53I didn't know that question was going to come out of your mouth then.
02:57I was a bit surprised thinking is there a catch here with a fixture?
03:01No but I can remember playing a pre-season friendly against Weston-Super-Mare when I
03:07was 18 so good memories and good luck to them both.
03:17Are you aware the whole country has gone absolutely crazy back home?
03:21I was speaking to Harry Kane this morning at breakfast and I was trying to take it all
03:28in when I was on the pitch and he was trying to drag me away for you guys, desperate to
03:35do an interview but I was trying to soak it all in because obviously those moments don't
03:40come around often but also we're in such a small little bubble that you get into a routine
03:48and you just go on to the next.
03:50Next thing you know we were back on the bus playing Uno on the way back to base camp ready
03:55for training and recovery the next day so I'm sure the lads are all aware that there's
04:02a lot of hype and the country are probably very excited about the game on Sunday but
04:07our focus is on that final and it's just back to base camp and focusing.
04:16Hi Oli, congratulations and good luck for Sunday as well.
04:20Jordan Jarrett-Bryant, Channel 4 News.
04:22Much of the country have been very critical of the style of play but I don't know anybody
04:26today that really cares about how you've got this final, they just want to win this final.
04:31As an attacking player yourself, how important is the more attacking play to you?
04:37Can I also ask have you been reading up on text messages from your club's Spanish manager?
04:45So the text messages, no I haven't, I don't even actually have the boss's number to be
04:54honest, but I have had some text messages, quite a few text messages actually, but yeah
05:02I think I was going to after that the other night.
05:07And then secondly on to the formation and how we're playing, I feel like obviously the
05:13early stages, the group stages, we weren't playing our best football, it doesn't take
05:22a genius to work that one out, everyone knew, even in base camp, but the main thing is we
05:27weren't losing games, so we were unbeaten.
05:31And then progressively as the tournament's gone further on, we're playing better football,
05:36we're controlling games, even if we've got a goal behind, we don't crumble.
05:43We've come back and shown the togetherness, the attitude that everyone's there as a
05:50team to work hard and pull together, and I feel like we're only getting stronger game by game.
05:55And it's also been noted that many strikers across the competition, it's not only a strikers
06:00tournament from what we've seen, but with England, do you feel that depth in that particular
06:05part of your squad has given you the edge so far and could make a difference on Sunday?
06:10Yeah definitely, I feel like there's three strikers, me, Haychen and Ivan, and we all
06:16have different attributes, and as a manager I think you want as many options as possible,
06:21as much as it gives you a headache sometimes, it's also perfect to have them options and
06:29being able to choose from different quality strikers.
06:37Congratulations on the last match and good luck going into this final.
06:41I want to take you back to Newton Town and ask you, what was the first memory you have
06:47of sitting down and watching an England match? Where were you? Who was it?
06:56I can't remember the first game or anything like that that I watched, but I can remember
07:06not too long ago actually when I was in a pub with my best mate, I was watching an England
07:13game, I was in a goalkeeper shirt, I think a cheap goalkeeper shirt from Sainsbury's,
07:20and that was probably a good memory that I can remember, being a fan and just enjoying
07:29the moments, and now it's crazy to think that I'm here, I've played such a big part of us
07:36getting to the final, and yeah it's a bit surreal really.
07:42You talk about it being surreal, David Beckham mentioned your goal on his Instagram, compared
07:47it to his Greece goal and you said he didn't actually tag you in, but you said his goal
07:52was better, you do appreciate that your goal has got this team into the European final right?
07:58Yeah I think obviously Beckham's, I just think his technique and a free kick from a dead
08:04ball situation is probably a lot harder, obviously granted that my goal was very special as well
08:11and I'm not taking anything away from myself, but look they're both iconic goals at the
08:17end of the day, and yeah very important for our country.
08:22There's been a message from the King of England, King Charles is saying, if I can encourage
08:27you, the England team, to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder goals
08:32or another penalty drama, I'm sure the stresses on the nation's collective heart rate and
08:37blood pressure would be greatly alleviated. Can you confirm or deny the rumour that these
08:42last minute goals are all just for limbs?
08:46No, as much as it obviously makes it more exciting, I feel like personally we don't
08:56care how we win or score, as long as the ball goes in the back of the net and we come off
09:01the pitch winning the game, it doesn't matter.
09:05And it's been announced now that whoever ties for the golden boot, it won't come down to
09:09assists, there will be golden boots for every player tied. How much of an incentive is that?
09:15For everyone in the camp as well?
09:21Yeah, I think obviously as an attacking player you want to score as many goals as possible,
09:26them achievements are great, individual, but I think everyone's focusing on the collective
09:33award, which is the team one, and to win the competition and everyone's got their eyes
09:38on that. But yeah, we need to respect Spain, because they're a very good team. It's going
09:46to be a difficult game, but we need to focus on Sunday.
09:51Hi Oli, congrats on your goal and on being in the final. Areles from TV2 Norway. You're
09:56facing Lamine Yamal on Sunday, he's turning 17 tomorrow. Do you remember what you were
10:01doing on your 17th birthday?
10:04I definitely wasn't preparing for a final, I can tell you that. He's an unbelievable
10:11talent, everyone's seen what he can do. Generational talent, it's not often that you are scoring
10:18goals against France in the top corner in the semi-final of the Euros when you're 16.
10:27Obviously he's got the world at his feet and he's miles ahead of me when I was 16 or 17.
10:34He's only a kid, but he has to deal with huge pressure. Can you imagine how it is to be
10:39in his shoes during the age that he's in?
10:44No, to be honest I can't. Obviously with social media and all the hype, being at Barcelona,
10:53playing for Spain, there's a lot of hype around him. For me, I feel like you have to
11:00have a good close-knit of people around you to keep you grounded and keep you focused.
11:07I feel like that's what I have as well. I have good people around me to keep me on the
11:11straight and narrow and be there as a sounding board.
11:16You also have a young teammate that's doing well, Kobi Mainu. He's been impressing everyone.
11:20Can you give us an insight into what impresses you the most, both on and off the pitch with him?
11:27I feel like Kobi's obviously a young player, but he doesn't act his age when he's on the pitch.
11:34He takes the ball, he's very comfortable on the ball, he's confident, he demands the ball.
11:41To be such a young player and play at such a high level, you would never think the age he is.
11:47He plays with a certain aura and confidence about him. He's got a very bright future ahead of him.
11:57Hi Oli, congratulations for your goal on Sunday. Alberto Rubio from Marca.
12:01I'm sorry, I cannot wish you good luck for Sunday.
12:05I want to know, Gareth Sogate said the other day that the way Spain is playing is the favourite for the final.
12:13I want to know your opinion. Do you think Spain is the favourite, England is the favourite or is it 50-50?
12:20No, I feel like England, we are obviously very strong. Spain, I feel like they've had some very tough games.
12:29They've had to come through, I would say, maybe a harder journey than us.
12:36Obviously playing France, Italy, Germany, so-called the bigger teams.
12:43I see what the boss is saying and I feel like they have been probably the best team of the competition so far.
12:53And the second one, what do you think are the biggest weapons of England to hurt Spain and the biggest weapons of Spain to hurt England?
13:03Thank you so much.
13:05Did you say the biggest...
13:07Weapons.
13:08Oh, weapons. Sorry, sorry.
13:12Obviously, the wingers for Spain are very dynamic, young, full of confidence and direct.
13:24But also, across our team, we have goals from everywhere, world-class talent, so it's going to be a very exciting match.
13:35I can't wait to watch it and be a part of it and hopefully we can get the job done.
13:46Hi, Ole. Abraham Romero for El Mundo Spain. I was going to say good luck, but yeah.
13:54You have a Spanish coach in Aston Villa, teammates like Pau Torres and Alex Moreno.
14:00You have Jules Bellingham in the locker room of the England national team.
14:04What do you think about Spain and what are they saying to you about Spain and Spanish football?
14:12To be honest, I've been in a little bit of a bubble.
14:17I've just been concentrating on myself, preparing day by day for training, then focusing on the game.
14:26I'm not aware of anything that the Spanish players have said or the coach.
14:30I'm just focusing on myself and the team and getting ready for Sunday.
14:39Hi, Ole.
14:41Kyle Walker just listed your goal as his top moment of the Euros so far.
14:46When did you first watch it back?
14:48Also, when you talk about manifesting it, how does that process work for you?
14:57I think I watched it quite a few times when I got back to base camp.
15:04I always watch my goals back, even my goals for Villa whenever I've scored against someone.
15:11But that one, I think I watched it quite a few more times than normal.
15:18Manifesting it, I feel like there's been a lot of things in the process leading up to it.
15:23One of my good friends who is coming to the game actually told me years ago
15:29that he felt like I was going to score in the Euro final.
15:34Obviously, I scored in the semi, so it was a game early.
15:37But you never know, that can happen on the weekend.
15:41Little things that have happened prior to that game.
15:45A lot of people have told me things and spoken it into existence.
15:52I just feel like whatever you put into the universe, you get back.
15:56I'm a firm believer of that.
15:58You can believe something, but if you deep down really truly believe that it can happen,
16:04then I think it will.
16:06We had a caller on Talk Sport earlier on today who said he refereed you
16:10when you were on loan at Western-Supermare.
16:12It was a really lovely anecdote that he gave.
16:16Are you aware of how inspiring your journey has been?
16:20No, I'm not really.
16:22I take things day by day.
16:24I don't look too far ahead.
16:26I don't really look too far back either.
16:30I know it's been an amazing journey.
16:33Obviously, I've put in a lot of hard work to get to this point.
16:37Anything is possible with hard work.
16:40I wouldn't say I'm technically the best here or the best player,
16:45but my work rate and dedication is up there with everyone here in the squad.
16:54With hard work and dedication, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.
17:00To the kids that are out there that are playing non-league,
17:05the dream isn't over.
17:07Just keep going, keep working hard, and you can get to where I am today for sure.
17:12You are one game away from lifting the European Championship trophy,
17:16which is incredible.
17:17We've been asking all the players what they'd do if they won the Euros.
17:20Phil Foden says he wants the whole team to spray-paint their hair in a St. George's flag.
17:25Kyle Walker has just said he wants you all to get a tattoo.
17:28It has to be exactly the same one done by the same tattoo artist.
17:31What would you do if you win the Euros?
17:34I haven't got any tattoos, but I think I'd join in on that one.
17:40I think I'd go for the tattoo one.
17:42I think it's good.
17:43Andy here has been setting up a game of...
17:47If you've watched the TV programme Traitors,
17:50another thing we've been playing is a game called Wolves.
17:54I think I'd persuade Andy to get a little wolf tattoo as well.
17:58Brilliant. I'll keep him to that.
18:00Thank you.
18:01Go back to Joe.
18:07Hi Oli, good luck for the weekend.
18:10Can you give us an insight into how Gareth Southgate has managed to keep
18:16all of the players that have been the finishers for the games ready for coming on?
18:22Because it's clear that every substitute has made such an impact throughout this tournament so far.
18:28Yeah, I think Kieran Trippier did a good speech.
18:34We presented him with...
18:37Andy, was it 50 or 75 caps?
18:4050 caps.
18:41A little board saying congratulations.
18:46He did a speech and said that the last Euros I think he played maybe one group game,
18:52then he didn't play again until the quarterfinal and then the final.
18:55He's just like, as much as it may seem like you're not involved,
18:59everyone has to be ready because you're going to have a part to play.
19:03I think everyone's taken that into consideration.
19:07Us lads that have come off the bench have all had our moment, had that impact.
19:12It proves that you're not actually that far away from playing or coming on and making a difference.
19:20Lots of players in this squad have been in this position before.
19:25What have they said to the rest of you about their experiences
19:30and how to prepare for the game on Sunday?
19:34To be fair, I've not had the conversation with many of them,
19:37but I know from previous when you play a game and it means so much to you
19:43and you lose that game, you take experience from that and you do all you can
19:49to make sure you don't make the same mistakes.
19:52I think obviously the last Euros we lost to Italy and that's firmly on the lads' minds.
20:02We're going to do everything we can to make sure we win on Sunday.
20:15I will ask you for the crowd.
20:18In the semi-finals there are a lot more people from the Netherlands,
20:22but how important is the crowd because they are so loud to the team?
20:27How important is the crowd to the team in the final?
20:32I think it's massive.
20:34When you're playing on the pitch you maybe don't take it into consideration,
20:39but obviously I've been on the bench and I've witnessed the fans hearing them sing.
20:45At one point the England fans were out singing the Dutch fans
20:49and it seemed like there was a lot more of them than us,
20:53but you wouldn't have thought that with our fans being so loud.
20:57As much as it may not seem like it, they do have an impact on the players
21:02and you can hear quite a lot from the pitch.
21:05Their support is everything and they've been supporting us so well so far,
21:12so hopefully they can keep going and be loud for us on Sunday.
21:17You face Spain.
21:18Maybe the main character in Spain is Rodri.
21:21You play against him in the Premier League.
21:24How important is it for England to stop that player?
21:28Very similar.
21:29I was speaking to Declan Rice earlier about watching the Italy game
21:34and I felt like Jorginho was a crucial player for them in the last Euro final.
21:43This time, obviously playing against Rodri, everyone knows his talent.
21:47He's a world-class player and I feel like he is crucial for the way they build up.
21:53If we can stop the ball from getting into him, it makes our life a lot easier,
21:58but it's never that simple with a world-class player like himself.
22:04Sorry, one more behind you before we come here.
22:09Hi, Oli.
22:10I'm from Cadena Cell Radio in Spain.
22:13You speak good words to Lamine Jamal, to Rodri,
22:17but which one of them do you think is the key player for Spain?
22:23I would definitely say Rodri, just from his experience of what he's won at Man City.
22:32He's very crucial, like I said, for the build-up for them defensively.
22:37I feel like he dictates games with the way he plays,
22:42so I feel like Rodri is the main man for them.
22:46And then a final question for you.
22:48Do you think that Spanish players or Spain can have a feeling that they already win the final?
22:57They are overconfident and do you think it could be against them?
23:02To be fair, like I said, I'm in a bit of a bubble.
23:04I'm just focusing on myself.
23:05I'm not aware of anything that the Spanish players or press or manager has said.
23:13Leading up to this game, we're just focusing on ourselves.
23:20We haven't taken anything into consideration of what they've said.
23:25Hi, Oli.
23:26I'm from Esports Daily in Madrid, Spain.
23:30We are very big fans of Unai Emery, of course.
23:34Which are the differences between Unai Emery and Gareth Southgate for you?
23:39And the similarities, if they are?
23:45I feel like Gareth is very laid-back and makes you feel at ease, really.
23:53And obviously there's a real togetherness in this squad that he's built from a long period of time.
24:01And the boss at Villa, Unai, is very demanding.
24:08The meetings are a lot longer, I would say.
24:14Both amazing managers, just with a slightly different approach.