Cucurella Hopes Ollie Watkins Doesn’t Play Against Spain In Euro 2024 Final

Spain and Chelsea defender, Marc Cucurella is wishing that England head coach, Gareth Southgate, doesn’t play Ollie Watkins against his country on Sunday, July 14.

Ollie Watkins made a huge name for himself on July 10, 2024, when he came from the bench to score a fantastic goal for England in the 90th minute of the Euro 2024 semi-finals against the Netherlands.

Before Watkins’ introduction into the game in the second half, England and Netherlands were playing a 1-1 draw. At that point, it looked like the game would be dragged into extra time.

Towards the end of regulation time, Chelsea star, Cole Palmer, who was also a substitute in the game, passed the ball to Watkins in the penalty box. With no hesitation, the prolific striker made a sharp turn and then smashed the ball into the net.

His goal was all England needed to secure a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Netherlands and qualify for their second European Championship final in a row.

Note that the game was Watkins’s second appearance so far in the competition and with his very important goal, he is expected to play a bigger role in the final.

He and his teammates will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion Berlin at 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Ahead of the game, Cucurella who said he used to communicate with Ollie Watkins since the Euro 2024 started, hoped that the Aston Villa forward has no game time in the final.

“I spoke with him, but it was over a week ago. We talked for a while in the previous rounds,” Cucurella told Mundo Deportivo.

“For me, it’s much better if he doesn’t play and stays on the bench.”