Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins earned some much-deserved minutes as England recorded a 1-1 draw against Denmark at Euro 2024 on Thursday.
As per, Harry Kane started the game. No one can dispute that. He is England’s main man and he did get on the scoresheet.
But just like against Serbia, apart from the goal, he didn’t press and was struggling to bring the energy in the final third as England’s Euro 2024 campaign begins with more questions than answers.
Micah Richards was raging at half-time and calling for Aston Villa’s number nine to come onto the pitch and for Kane to be subbed off.
The former Villa defender highlighted Ollie Watkins’ ability to ‘stretch’ play and use his ‘pace’ to hurt Denmark’s backline, as he told Match of the Day on BBC One.
Rio Ferdinand agreed with his fellow pundit and also stated that he would be ‘going mad’ at a player like Kane for not pressing.
England’s play was very slow, with very little attacking risk taken and Kane not pressing and putting pressure on the opposition’s backline.
When Watkins came onto the pitch, all of that changed and England looked far better.
Within minutes, he had a one-v-one chance after he ran in behind and his effort was saved at close-blank range by Kasper Schmeichel.
Ollie Watkins and Harry Kane for England v Denmark
“Watkins needs to come on,” insisted Richards at half-time. “He needs to stretch this game because, at the moment, it’s too easy for Denmark. England have got the players to press. Harry Kane is so good at scoring goals and his record is unbelievable – but on the other side of the game, we just need to improve.
“I would love to bring on Watkins for Harry Kane. I know he scored his goal and how important he is to this side, but in terms of stretching the team, getting up the pitch and some of that pace is needed.”
Ferdinand added: “I would be going mad. I couldn’t have my centre-forward not filling in with the workload of the other players. I need to see that intensity, at some point. Put their centre-halves under pressure – I would go definitely the same (bring Watkins on). You have got three centre-halves and you have a striker coming back to the ball. It doesn’t make sense.”
Ollie Watkins needs more minutes at Euro 2024
On paper, Kane is the main guy. His goalscoring record speaks for itself. But he can’t provide what Watkins does.
That’s running in behind, pressing the forward line and bringing more energy to the final third.
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Southgate won’t drop Kane and nor will he play the duo together because he probably doesn’t know how to.
But Watkins needs to come on sooner because he proved, during his 20 or so minutes against Denmark, that he can be a threat. There is a reason why he will be playing Champions League football next season.
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