How Watkins,Three Lions of England Clinical Finisher Made My Day

By Kolawole Adepoju

Watkins is an underated player in English Premiership.If he caught you napping with that one touch and out of comfort zone classical memorable goal that set up the Three Lions of England against Spain in Euro 2024 Final,I am not in any way suprised.

I’ve been a die- hard and unrepentant fan of this unsong hero for quite a quantum of time now.He caught my fancy with his unique way of scoring goals from unusual angles like he did tonight against the hard fighting Netherland.

As a matter of fact, around 30 minutes to the end of that match,the passion and urge in me to bring in Watkins was irresistibly infectious such that I was like whispering it from my television set at home to the ears of England ‘talismanic’ Coach to bring in Watkins.

My neighbour who was watching the match with me,at a point,could no longer bear my ferocious and vehement agitation for Southgate to bring in Watkins such that he felt that I was constituting an unbridled nuisance of distraction to his concentration on the tension soaked match.

But I was unperturbed in my routing for the introduction of Watkins in that match because experience over time has convinced me that England in a crucial match like this is in dire need of a clinical finisher to take Three Lions to final and I was unshaking in my conviction that Watkins is the much needed magician.

Already,there was palpable fear in me that if care is not taking England risk crashing out at the semi final stage.You know why,in the second half England was playing a Netherland that was far different from the one they played in the first half.

England dominated the Netherland they played in the first half with ease.That Netherland gave them space and room to operate such that England possession was wizardry.

However, the Netherland England played against in the second half was a vengeance and victory thirsty Netherland,the kind addicts of Yoruba Nollywood epic movies fondly reference as ‘IPADABO ABIJA or AGBO TI O FEYIN RIN TI O LO MU AGBARA WA”.

The second half Netherland was a very compact and forwardly mobile team.So compact that they didn’t create any breathing space or gap for England to play the free flow ball they played in the first half.

Consequently,Netherland took control and possession of the game such that the Three Lions could no longer roar.Rather,the Lions were retreating forcing Luke Shaw who was having his first match and ‘sarcastically’ playing Saka to retreat in defence of Pickford their goalkeeper.Kane also lost his ‘cane’ to the ‘Abels’ of Netherland.Harry Kane couldn’t ‘flogg’.

It was as if the Three Lions were ‘bewitched’.I became uncomfortable.I was tensed with tension.If you asked me of my name then I’m mostly likely to call it Watkins because my heart and expectation was preoccupied with the introduction of that one deft touch on the ball clinical finisher.

Southgate must be a “witch’.It was as if the gate of south ‘southgatingly’ opened the ears of Southgate to hear me out from my living room.

Lo and behold Southgate substituted Harry Kane with Watkins and Foden with Palmer.My heart leapt with joy as Watkins came in like Luke Shaw to play his first match in the tournament.I danced a macabre or galala kind of dance thereby disturbing my neighbour more.

And in the 90th minute of the match, my wonder boy,’Omo Ologo’, the vintage Watkins, ‘star lomo latile’ did it the way he used to do it in Aston Villa FC, he created a little space to his left with suggestive body movement which was a decor, he didn’t waste time,he took a powerful ‘lowole'(grounder’ shot that made Netherland goalkeeper to ‘bebe bebeto bi oya’..a fi jua ninu awon ..it was a goal.

“Watkins didn’t dissapoint you Deputy Registrar” as my neighbour used to fondly call me and I retorted in Yoruba “Dokii se mi o so fun yin”,meaning “Doctor didn’t I tell you that Watkins will do the needful.

And Watkins delivered!

I wasn’t suprised hearing ‘omo mi to sure’ Watkins saying during his post match interview that he told Palmer as they were about to come into the field of play that he should please set him up for a goal.

Palmer did exactly.He set ‘Warike’ Watkins up for that much needed goal that took my favourite team to the final of Euro 2024.

I’m so glad tonight such that that I’ve changed my middle name to Watkins.The naming ceremony will hold next week Wednesday at Threeenga Lions Street…Ma wa address yen kiri.olorun ma je ko junu…Up England..Three Lions for life.We gonna beat Spain on Sunday..oh yeah!
….Yours Iganna Boy,
Kolawole Watkins Adepoju

..if una no like or sabi my ogbonge obodo oyinbo new middle name,a begii make una go hug transformer