Ollie Watkins: That Semi-Final Goal Changed my Career Forever
6/2/202652 min
This is Ollie Watkins reflecting on a journey that very few footballers ever experience - opening up on going from League Two and non-league football to scoring one of England’s biggest goals in recent history. Chilling with Rio in his Airbnb, Watkins reveals why he still thinks about those early days every time he walks out for Aston Villa in the Champions League.
Despite becoming one of the Premier League’s most consistent forwards, Watkins remains hugely grounded throughout this conversation - discussing the impatience that drove him early in his career, the responsibility he felt during Steven Gerrard’s time at Aston Villa and why Unai Emery completely changed the standards and mentality within the squad.
There’s fascinating insight into the mentality of elite strikers too, including why Erling Haaland’s role is “so difficult”, how studying Ruud van Nistelrooy helped develop his instincts inside the box and why Harry Kane’s leadership is more about standards than shouting.
Watkins also explains the challenge of being used as an impact substitute for England and reveals the voice note he sent to friends before his huge semi-final goal after growing frustrated on the bench.
The pair also discuss Thomas Tuchel’s arrival as England manager, why the squad are already buying into his demand for more arrogance and confidence, and how nobody in the camp can beat him at table tennis. Plus brilliant stories and insight on Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden and why Watkins believes criticism of Gareth Southgate was completely unfair.
There’s also a brilliant look into dressing room culture and player personalities - from fashion disasters in the France squad and ping-pong battles at England camp to why Michael Owen’s advice means more than anybody else’s and the underrated qualities that make Ezri Konsa such a difficult defender to play against.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsRio Ferdinand· Host0:00
So just take me back to that semifinal goal, man, 'cause they're superstar players- Yeah ... who have done amazing things in their careers and they're, they're gonna be legends for the game forever. Just never ever done what you've done.
Ollie Watkins· Guest0:09
There's a few times in training I'd, you know, I linked up well with Cole, and, like, whenever I ran, he'd just find me. Like, it was just, it was just easy. I didn't have to do anything. He would just put it on a plate. So when I saw that he was coming on with me, I remember I was warming up with him and I said, like, I said to, uh, Lewis Duncan, Dean Henderson, I said, "I'm gonna score here."
Rio Ferdinand· Host0:27
Welcome to Rio Meets. Before I head off to the World Cup in the States, I'm doing a bit of prep, and I'm gonna be speaking to some of the biggest names in the game. And Airbnb have sorted us out with another brilliant stay. So let's see who I'm welcoming onto the pod next. [upbeat music] Yes, Ollie. What's happening?
Ollie Watkins· Guest0:51
All good, man.
Rio Ferdinand· Host0:52
How you doing? You all right? Nice to see you.
Ollie Watkins· Guest0:53
Yeah, good. How are you?
Rio Ferdinand· Host0:53
You all right?
Ollie Watkins· Guest0:54
Yeah. All good, man.
Rio Ferdinand· Host0:55
Come in, man.
Ollie Watkins· Guest0:55
Nice here, innit?
Rio Ferdinand· Host0:56
Yeah, it's nice, man. There you go. You're in there.
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:01
Perfect.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:02
Nice one.
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:02
Thanks, man.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:04
How you been?
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:04
All good.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:06
Oh.
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:06
All good.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:06
Fit, fighting fit?
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:07
Yeah, feeling, feeling healthy.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:10
Yeah.
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:10
Feeling good, yeah.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:10
[laughs] That's good, man. You look healthy. You look like you've got a tan, bruv. Been out in the sun? It's been sunnier lately, hasn't it?
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:14
Few days. Nah, we had a, a little break before, um, I didn't go away with the nationals, so- Mm ... south of France with the families.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:21
Oh, nice. Whereabouts did you go?
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:22
Oh, it's Cannes.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:23
Oh, it's nice there, innit?
Ollie Watkins· Guest1:25
Um, yeah, it's my spot.
Rio Ferdinand· Host1:26
So what do, what do you do to chill now? Like, what do the players do when they're just, like, relaxing outside of the