England’s Ollie Watkins: ‘I used to shop in Sainsbury’s … then I came to Aston Villa and I couldn’t’
Ollie Watkins is the man of the moment: seven goals and four assists this season in a free-flowing Aston Villa side, including a recent hat-trick against Brighton in front of Gareth Southgate, meant it wasn’t a surprise when he was called up to play for England last week, 18 months after his last cap.
Except that three weeks ago, he wasn’t the man at all. He still hadn’t scored in the Premier League. He was struggling to take chances and he was getting some stick, which is why he celebrated his first league goal of the season, against Chelsea in late September, with his fingers in his ears. Zoom out and his form has been exceptional for a year, but criticism is never far away.
“I think all fans are quite fickle,” Watkins says. “If you go a few games without a goal, people will be saying, ‘he’s on a drought, he can’t score’. Then I score four goals in two games and everyone kind of loves you.”
Ollie Watkins: ‘I used to shop in Sainsbury’s … I came to Villa and I couldn’t’
Interview: The striker, who is thriving for Unai Emery’s Villa and is back in the England squad, discusses fame, shunning social media and why he doesn’t like shopping
England vs Australia
Australia last faced a European nation in a friendly in June 2018, beating Hungary 2-1.
Indeed, the Socceroos have won their last two friendlies with European nations (also 4-0 versus Czechia in June 2018), after losing nine of their previous 12 (won one, drawn two).
Ange Postecoglou inspires Australia ahead of Three Lions clash
Australia manager Graham Arnold says he used Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou to try and inspire his side before their friendly against England.
Arnold spoke to Postecoglou and former Australia head coach Guus Hiddink asking them to speak to his players before tonight’s game.
“The speeches by Ange were very similar to what we’ve been saying for years,” said Arnold, “Doing it for the kids in Australia, the nation and the supporters.”
England vs Australia
England and Australia will face at Wembley for the very first time. Only two nations have ever beaten the Three Lions in their first game against them at the national stadium – Hungary in 1953 (6-3) and Sweden in 1959 (3-2).
Experimental England side must have right mindset against Australia, says Southgate
Gareth Southgate wants England’s players to be mentally “spot on” and grab their opportunity to impress as he experiments against old sporting rivals Australia.
The Three Lions can seal their place at next summer’s European Championships when they host holders Italy at Wembley in Tuesday’s Group C encounter.
Experimental England side must have right mindset against Australia, says Southgate
Gareth Southgate wants England’s players to be mentally “spot on” and grab their opportunity to impress as he experiments against old sporting rivals Australia. The Three Lions can seal their place at next summer’s European Championships when they host holders Italy at Wembley in Tuesday’s Group C encounter. Italy beat England in the Euro 2020 final two years ago. But ahead of the qualifier, Southgate’s side will face Australia in London. “Our mindset has got to be spot on,” he said ahead of kick-off. “Equally, we’ve still got a bit of work to do to qualify for the European Championships but we’re potentially six games away from that. We have good players and we need to give people opportunities to show what they can do.”
England vs Australia prediction
Perhaps the game might get a bit more spicy than some previous friendlies have been noted for, on account of the natural sporting rivalry that occurs between these two nations, but ultimately the gap in quality should prove significant.
England 3-1 Australia.
England vs Australia predicted line-ups
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Guehi, Colwill, Trippier; Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham; Bowen, Kane, Maddison
Australia XI: Ryan; Miller, Rowles, Burgess, Behich; Irvine, Luongo, Baccus, O’Neill; Duke, Mabil
England vs Australia team news
Gareth Southgate might opt to shuffle the pack before the Italy match but he has habitually kept a fairly consistent core and just altered a few players around them.
As such, the in-form Jarrod Bowen will be one hoping to get a chance, while Trent Alexander-Arnold may get another run-out in midfield in a non-competitive environment having missed out on the last international break through injury.
Levi Colwill has impressed for Chelsea so could get a look-in in defence, be it centrally or on the left given no natural left-backs are in the squad.
Australia are without a host of regulars including Ajdin Hrustic, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Bailey Wright – plus Aaron Mooy, who has retired.
How to watch England vs Australia
The Three Lions face the Socceroos on Friday 13 October 2023 at Wembley, with kick-off set for 7:45pm BST.
All of England’s fixtures outside of international tournaments are for now screened free to air on Channel 4, and can be streamed on the Channel 4 website and app.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider.
England vs Australia
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of England vs Australia.
The Three Lions are back in action at Wembley as they play host to the Socceroos in a warm-up to Tuesday night’s crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy. Australia reached the last-16 stage of the World Cup, making it out of a tricky group in the process, so won’t be easy opponents this evening. They’ll want to impress against the old enemy and will come into the match with a strong side that should keep England on their toes.
Gareth Southgate meanwhile may decide to take the opportunity to play some of the newer members of the squad. Preparations continue for next summer’s European Championship and the England boss may decide to switch up formations or personnel this evening in a rare international friendly.
Kick off is at 7.45pm and we’ll have all the action throughout the night including team news when it drops shortly so stick around as England host Australia at Wembley.
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