![Fantastic journeyman goes from Weston to West Berlin](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1720756225/articles/13t16J10Z1720769701012/FANTASTIC-JOURNEYMAN-GOES-FROM-WESTON-TO-WEST-BERLIN.jpg)
Bobby Charlton, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins. There is an incongruous presence on the rather short list of players who have scored a semi-final winner for the England football team. Charlton was England’s record goalscorer and Kane is now. Charlton was a knight of the realm and, if England win Euro 2024, Kane may become one in retirement, too.
Then there is Watkins; formerly of Weston-super-Mare, a footballer who was playing in the Conference South at the age Kobbie Mainoo was starring in a European Championships semi-final; who, at the age Jude Bellingham is now, was plying his trade in League Two for Exeter.
Watkins may be a perfect product of Gareth Southgate’s England. There are echoes of Kieran Trippier scoring in a World Cup semi-final in 2018, something only Charlton and Gary Lineker had previously done for the country. Southgate’s England have reversed a national trend of underachievement.
They have also given some unlikely lads a rare status. Watkins will go from Weston-super-Mare to West Berlin, to the Olympiastadion. Whatever happens – and there is no guarantee he will even get on the pitch – he will remain indelibly associated with Dortmund.
“I never thought I would be playing in the Euros for England,” he said, harking back the best part of a decade to his days on loan in non-league. “You can dream but I am a realist. I was just thinking to get into the team at Exeter.”
Denne historien er fra July 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra July 12, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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![Brown shrugs off dislocated shoulder to skate to bronze](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/K7l0TymNv1723011861082/BROWN-SHRUGS-OFF-DISLOCATED-SHOULDER-TO-SKATE-TO-BRONZE.jpg)
Brown shrugs off dislocated shoulder to skate to bronze
Sky Brown is an Olympic medallist again, and this time she did it the hard way.
![Team GB sprinters bow to all-conquering Dutch trio](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/jhYZhg5bo1723011675268/TEAM-GB-SPRINTERS-BOW-TO-ALLCONQUERING-DUTCH-TRIO.jpg)
Team GB sprinters bow to all-conquering Dutch trio
Jack Carlin, Ed Lowe, and Hamish Turnbull won Olympic men's team sprint silver for Great Britain as pre-race favourites the Netherlands broke the world record twice on their way to gold last night.
![Kerr wins battle but loses war as Hocker rips up script](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/HiLlU-9SM1723011406816/KERR-WINS-BATTLE-BUT-LOSES-WAR-AS-HOCKER-RIPS-UP-SCRIPT.jpg)
Kerr wins battle but loses war as Hocker rips up script
It was an astonishing end to perhaps the most enthralling 1500m final in Olympic history.
![Three water companies face £168m in fines over sewage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/LLtBFys211723011252106/THREE-WATER-COMPANIES-FACE-168M-IN-FINES-OVER-SEWAGE.jpg)
Three water companies face £168m in fines over sewage
Industry regulator Ofwat has proposed £168m of fines for three of England's biggest water companies for failing to manage their wastewater treatment works, including a £104m fine for Thames Water.
![Hezbollah vow Israel strike over death of military chief](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/qe2WIfT5a1723011096084/HEZBOLLAH-VOW-ISRAEL-STRIKE-OVER-DEATH-OF-MILITARY-CHIEF.jpg)
Hezbollah vow Israel strike over death of military chief
The leader of Hezbollah yesterday pledged a \"strong and effective\" response to the killing of its military commander by Israel last week and said it would act either alone or with its regional allies.
![Demand for Nobel winner to lead Bangladesh rebuild](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/0jDVbz6tx1723010881607/DEMAND-FOR-NOBEL-WINNER-TO-LEAD-BANGLADESH-REBUILD.jpg)
Demand for Nobel winner to lead Bangladesh rebuild
Jubilation turned to anxiety in Bangladesh yesterday as the focus of student protesters turned to who should lead the country, now that authoritarian prime minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled to neighbouring India.
![The man who was the first to call Republicans 'weird'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/JJr0zUuo41723010629660/THE-MAN-WHO-WAS-THE-FIRST-TO-CALL-REPUBLICANS-WEIRD.jpg)
The man who was the first to call Republicans 'weird'
Former football coach Tim Walz gave away all the money he received from the NRA and is a favourite of the online left
![Minnesota governor Walz to be Harris's running mate](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/mWsd1MYzh1723009486893/MINNESOTA-GOVERNOR-WALZ-TO-BE-HARRISS-RUNNING-MATE.jpg)
Minnesota governor Walz to be Harris's running mate
The vice-president touted Tim Walz's work for 'middle-class families' in social media post as she announced her selection
![Police offer £3,000 reward in their hunt for horse killer](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/T_sSHBmTd1723009390417/POLICE-OFFER-3000-REWARD-IN-THEIR-HUNT-FOR-HORSE-KILLER.jpg)
Police offer £3,000 reward in their hunt for horse killer
A £3,000 reward has been offered in the hunt for the killer of a horse found mutilated in a field in Nottinghamshire.
![Charles overruled Camilla to go public on ill health.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1791488/GD8ejXOi01723009290707/CHARLES-OVERRULED-CAMILLA-TO-GO-PUBLIC-ON-ILL-HEALTH.jpg)
Charles overruled Camilla to go public on ill health.
Queen Camilla was against King Charles's decision to publicly disclose his ongoing health concerns earlier this year, according to biographer Rob Jobson, who has written a number of books about Charles and other members of the royal family.