Ollie Watkins draws England-Real Madrid comparison as Three Lions gear up for final showdown with Spain as he backs Jude Bellingham for Ballon d'Or win

Watkins, suggested that England have a similar calmness to the current great Madrid side, which has been seen in the way they have managed to grind out results to progress through the rounds at Euro 2024 - including the late goals from Jude Bellingham in the last 16 and Watkins himself in the semi-final.

England have been criticised throughout Euro 2024 for not playing at their best. And yet, the Three Lions have always managed to get over the line when it really matters. That is exactly how Real Madrid, for all their elite players, have come to dominate in Europe. They famously came from behind repeatedly to win the Champions League in 2021-22, while they were heading out of of last season's competition in the semi-finals until Joselu's late brace against Bayern Munich. They were even on the back foot in the first half of the final against Borussia Dortmund but stayed cool and eventually claimed a 2-0 win.

Watkins said, via The Guardian: "You see someone like Real Madrid in a Champions League game: they are comfortable without the ball, they have that confidence that when they get the ball they are going to score.

"I feel like it is the same here. We are definitely hard to beat, then we just need that one chance and we can win the game. It doesn’t matter if we are playing poorly or if players are having an off day, we still have that world-class talent where we can pop up and get that goal."

On the subject of Bellingham and world football's biggest individual accolade: Watkins added: "Whatever happens, Jude should win the Ballon d'Or. The way he plays with such ­maturity, confidence, aura, I can’t speak any more highly of him. To see him transition from where he was…I played against him when he was at Birmingham and, even then, you'd have thought he was a seasoned pro.

"I remember being in one of my earlier [England] camps, I think he was 16 at the time and he still had ­confidence about him. It's no surprise to see what he's gone on and done."

England are potentially just 90 minutes away from a first senior trophy in men's international football in 58 years as they face Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final. Watkins will hope he has done enough to to earn a starting place over Harry Kane, but is likely to return to the bench and be considered an impact sub later on.