England midfielder Jude Bellingham has spoken about his national team teammate Ollie Watkins, who scored the winning goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final match against the Netherlands.

“Ollie came on and won it for us. We’re so grateful because I don’t know if I would have had 30 more minutes in me. I’m so proud of him. He came on and took his chance. I couldn’t be more proud of him. The whole team is behind him. He’s a hero, and he saved us.”

Bellingham's comments reflect the immense pride and gratitude the England team feel towards Watkins, who came off the bench to score the decisive goal that secured their place in the Euro 2024 final. The young midfielder acknowledged his own fatigue towards the end of the game, highlighting Watkins' crucial impact in securing victory.

Bellingham's words also highlight the strong camaraderie and team spirit within the England set-up. He stresses that the entire squad is fully behind Watkins, describing him as a "hero" who "saved" the team. This sense of collective support and celebration of individual contributions is often a hallmark of teams that succeed at major tournaments.

The semi-final between England and the Netherlands was played on 10 July at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, with Felix Zwayer as the head referee. England emerged victorious with a score of 2–1, setting up a tantalising final against Spain on 14 July at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

England will be looking to end their long wait for a European Championship title, having last lifted the trophy in 1966. The team's journey to the final has been marked by resilience and determination, qualities which Bellingham said will be crucial in their bid to lift the trophy.