OLLIE WATKINS revealed today he told Cole Palmer they would connect for England’s winner after the substitutes combined at the death to send Gareth Southgate’s side to the Euro 2024 final.

After Harry Kane’s spot-kick cancelled out a superb Xavi Simons opener, Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands looked set to go to extra time just like the Slovakia and Switzerland matches earlier in the knockout stages.

But Southgate’s bold decision to replace captain Kane and Phil Foden with Watkins and Palmer in the 81st minute proved a master stroke.