Injury Or Tactics? Gareth Southgate’s Decision To Sub Off Harry Kane For Ollie Watkins Decoded

Things look poised between the Netherlands and England as both nations aimed to punch their ticket to the Euro 2024 final. The flying Dutchman had a great start to the game, with Xavi Simons providing his team with the opening goal. However, English skipper Harry Kane was right on the money just minutes after the goal as he struck from the box to level things up.

With the game edging close towards extra time, English head coach Gareth Southgate left fans stunned as he subbed Harry Kane off in the 81st minute, bringing in Ollie Watkins as the number nine. Many were left surprised by the decision, considering Kane played a key role the last time England’s fixture went into extra time. While you’d think Southgate might have taken Kane out because of an injury, it seems the English head coach had a bigger plan.

With Watkins brought into the game, England got the extra step in their attack with a fresh pair of legs. The decision paid dividends, as it was Watkins who found England’s winner in the 90+1st minute to send his team into the finals. Talk about a perfect gamble that paid off!

Ollie Watkins was the right man at the right time for England as the player found himself at the receiving end of a perfect low pass from Cole Palmer. With defenders closing in, the striker didn’t waste any time as he fired a low shot past Bart Verbruggen slotting it into the left bottom corner. With a win over the Netherlands, England will now travel to Berlin to face Spain in the final.

Gareth Southgate makes history as Harry Kane & men march to the finals

Despite the outrage against the English manager, Gareth Southgate continues to prove his critics wrong. The English head coach made history with the Three Lions as he became the first to lead the team to two consecutive European Championship finals. While his team might have not looked at their best at the start of the tournament, England has picked up the pace with the team’s last three wins as proof of their resilience.

On all three occasions when it looked England were down and out, Gareth Soutgate’s tactics have helped Harry Kane and his men survive. Whether it’s subbing off his captain or even playing his right-winger as a defender, all the tricks have done wonders for the manager. Fans will hope England is at their best in the finals as they face Spain in the final. Luis de la Fuente’s La Rojas is on a six-game winning streak and could be England’s biggest hurdle this Sunday.