OLLIE WHO?: "HE WILL FOREVER BE AN ENGLISH LEGEND"

 OLLIE WATKINS? Who the … heck is Ollie Watkins? … and what was GARETH SOUTHGATE thinking … replacing HARRY KANE with Ollie “Bleeping” Watkins? … Just when it appeared England and the Netherlands were bound for overtime in their Europa 2024 semifinal Wednesday along came Watkins to score the game-winning goal two seconds into stoppage and send the Three Lions to Sunday’s championship match with Spain. The final was 2-1 after Watkins, taking a seemingly innocent, non-threatening pass (from another sub COLE PALMER) that was about to put him at an impossible angle to the right of Netherland’s keeper BART VERBRUGGEN … and closely watched by veteran defender STEFAN de VRIJ … suddenly put on the brakes and drilled a shot that found the far side, just inside the pipe … “Out of nowhere. Nobody expected a goal from him,” said Fox TV analyst LANDON DONOVAN. “He will forever be an English legend.”

Donovan, 42, we know. He arguably is the G.O.A.T of 

American soccer. As for Watkins … well, put it this 

way: When Southgate called his number (19) in the 

80^th minute for all-world Kane, who earlier had 

knotted the count at one on a PK, the anti-Gareth 

legions were poised to pounce … all over him … 

Understand, Southgate apparently is likable enough 

but his teams play b-o-r-i-n-g soccer … which can be 

bearable with success. Making it two in a row in the 

final for the European championship gives fans of the 

Three Lions hope … Nevertheless, there are critics 

who want more. “Frankly, I would prefer style over 

substance,” said one. (Sorry … I missed the name.) … 

So, Southgate got a momentary reprieve from goat 

status, thanks to Ollie Who? And, if they fail (as 

predicted) against Spain Sunday (July 14) … well, 

there won’t be many sad faces if he replaces GREGG 

BERHALTER – fired Wednesday – as coach of the 

U.S. Men’s National Team. Southgate is on what 

appears to be a very long list … that was reduced by 

one when JURGEN KLOPP reportedly said thanks, 

but no thanks. Besides, I doubt if you can afford me … 

Having led Liverpool to an English Premier League 

title in addition to a Champions League championship 

during nine seasons at Anfield, Klopp, 57, said in 

January he needed time away from the grind and made 

good his decision to resign at season’s end … and take 

at least one year off … Chances are Klopp would be 

too expensive for the USSF anyway. He commands an 

eight figure salary … which would leave new sporting 

director MATT CROCKER with a near-impossible 

task … justify paying his women’s team coach an 

equal amount … like in excess of $10 million … 

which he must do or else. In other words, GET 

SERIOUS!!

Finally … about Ollie Who? … Oliver George Arthur 

Watkins, 28, has been sort of an afterthought by 

Southgate despite being the most dangerous offensive 

player for EPL Aston Villa … He now has four goals 

in 14 international appearances but no more than one a 

year and, naturally, none as big as the last … In four 

seasons with Aston Villa, Watkins has 59 goals in 146 

appearances (all competitions). On Oct. 7, 2020, the 5-

11 forward scored a hat trick as AV handed Liverpool 

its worst drubbing 7-2 away from home … He also led 

the league with 13 assists this year … after being left 

off the English side by Southgate for the 2022 World 

Cup.

While we’re at it … de Vrij is a 32 year old central 

defender who has been with Inter Milan since 2018 … 

and has 70 caps with the Netherlands but has been in 

and out of the lineup … like he was on his country’s 

World Cup 2022 squad but didn’t get off the bench in 

five games … 

Finally … JADEN SANCHO is back with 

Manchester United, having (cliché alert) kissed and 

made up with coach ERIK TEN HAGErik, who – 

surprisingly – was retained. In January, Sancho, 

writing on social media, was critical of ten Hag … 

who responded by sending the young forward on loan 

to Dortmund … where he once again excelled. At one 

point, it appeared he never would be welcomed back 

by the Red Devils … Among eight players released by 

ManU were forward ANTHONY MARTIAL and 

defender RAPHAEL VARANE, 31, who told 

reporters recently his world-class career was hampered 

by concussions … the result of too many headers. 

Ouch! 

Until next time ...