- England reached the Euro 2024 final after beating the Netherlands in Dortmund
- Cole Palmer came off the benchto assist the Three Lions’ last-minute winner
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: How England’s players performed to the level we’ve seen in the Premier League
Cole Palmer has responded to King Charles‘ urge for England to win in a less stressful manner than they did in their dramatic semi-final victory over the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate‘s side created history on Wednesday night as they reached the European Championship final on foreign soil for the first time in the country’s history.
The victory came in dramatic fashion as substitute Ollie Watkins netted a 90th-minute equaliser to ensure England made it to back-to-back Euros finals under Southgate.
The King made sure to congratulate the Three Lions upon the final whistle but also asked if they ease the stress of the nation by winning in a more straightforward fashion against Spain in the final.
Palmer, who assisted Watkins’s heroic finish, had a simple answer to the Monarch’s request. Speaking on England’s YouTube channel, the forward responded: ‘It is better in the last minute though, init.’
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England have had a knack for winning the hard way at Euro 2024. They required a Jude Bellingham overhead kick to force extra-time in the round of 16 against Slovakia, before needing penalties to get past Switzerland in the quarter-final.
And although the King was clearly pleased with the run the Three Lions are on, he couldn’t help jokingly asking them to get the job done more calmly.
He said: ‘My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the U.E.F.A. European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
‘If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated! Good luck, England.’
Watkins, the man of the moment on Wednesday, reacted to the message similarly to Palmer.
‘A last minute winner or a penalty shootout is way better than just winning it 2-0 or something,’ said the striker.
‘As much as I want that to happen – winning 2-0 – winning on penalties or a last-minute winner is better.’
The King was not the only member of the royal family to congratulate the Three Lions. Prince William, who is an Aston Villa fan, took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Watkins and the rest of the team.
The Prince of Wales wrote: ‘What a beauty, Ollie! Congratulations England! #EURO2024 Finalists.’
The Prince has already shown his support for England on multiple occasions throughout this tournament.
He attended England’s last eight penalty shootout victory over the Swiss and was spotted going through all the emotions on that day before personally congratulating the players.
The Prince of Wales, who is the president of the Football Association is expected to travel back to Germany and take his seat inside the Olympiastadion in Berlin for the final, and Watkins wants to see him there.
On the show ‘Lion’s Den, Watkins added: ‘Prince William came in, he likes being at the games. he handed us a little box with our shirt number pre-Euros.
‘And now we are in the final and hopefully, he is going to be coming back.’