OLIVER HOLT: It is July 10 2024‚ a couple of hours after goals from Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins have taken England past the Netherlands in Dortmund and into the final of Euro 2024. In the Dorint Hotel‚ the other side of a dual carriageway from the Westfalenstadion‚ a group of fans‚ some in England shirts‚ are sitting in the lobby bar. They see a couple of us sitting by ourselves at another table and invite us over. It is Kane's wife‚ Katie Goodland‚ and her family‚ her sister‚ her parents. They talk about Kane's life in Munich and their lives in Essex‚ their favourite pubs‚ favourite places to eat. They talk a little about some of the criticism Kane is attracting but they hold no bitterness. They are lovely people. It is two hours well spent. I thought of them when I got around to seeing Dear England‚ the play written by James Graham‚ which won rave reviews for its portrayal of Gareth Southgate as football's answer to Jesus Christ but whose characterisation of Kane as a dolt and a bore was so crass and crudely drawn that it spoilt the play.

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Ollie Watkins scored on his Al-Hilal debut in Saudi Arabia after agitating for a move away from Aston Villa. The England international headed home for his new side in a 3-0 win over 10-man Al-Ahli on Tuesday night. Watkins had only signed three days earlier for £51million and has hit the ground running for former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi.

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OLIVER HOLT AT VILLA PARK: On Witton Lane‚ just beyond where The Holte pub stands proudly at the junction with Trinity Road‚ Aston Villa supporters slowed and stopped to gaze at a wall. A crestfallen lad of seven or eight asked his dad what had happened to the images that once adorned it. Older men‚ inured to football's fleeting loyalties‚ smiled wryly at the speed of the erasing. Three faces had stared out from that wall until the weekend. Ollie Watkins was first‚ eyes front and fist clenched. Rachel Daly had been in the middle. Last‚ nearest the Holte End‚ Emiliano Martinez had stood with his finger pressed to his lips. Now‚ a couple of hours before the Arsenal game‚ they had all been painted over. Disappeared. All that remained was a broad expanse of deep purple. It is a bit harsh on Daly‚ who is still the women's club captain‚ but she is collateral damage in the midst of the men's exodus. Watkins fled Villa for Saudi riches‚ as if he wasn't paid well enough‚ and Martinez left in haste at the end of last week for Chelsea. They are non-persons here now‚ symbols of desertion and change at the start of a season shrouded in uncertainty.

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Emi Martinez is poised to join Chelsea from Aston Villa for £7.5million - the fourth deal involving the clubs this summer. The Argentina goalkeeper has been surplus to requirements at Villa Park since the club signed Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this month. It means Martinez‚ Lucas Digne‚ Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans should all have left by the end of the transfer window - and they were four of Villa's highest earners.

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Villa say they have rejected four offers from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for Watkins‚ the latest of which is thought to be around £34million‚ a price the Premier League side will not sell at.

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Unai Emery hinted heavily that Ollie Watkins had been reluctant to play for Aston Villa as they were hammered by Brighton amid interest in the striker from Al-Hilal. Villa say they have rejected four offers from the Saudi Pro League club for Watkins‚ who was not included in the squad for Villa's 4-0 defeat even though the club's only other forwards‚ Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham‚ are out injured. As far as Villa are concerned‚ it is understood Watkins is neither ill nor injured. However‚ he is not thought to have trained fully last week. Watkins representative has been contacted for comment.

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Watkins‚ 30‚ is open to the move as the Saudi side have made a couple of proposals this summer but Villa want to keep him.

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CRAIG HOPE AT THE INTER&CO STADIUM: The Three Lions got off to an electric start in Florida when Declan Rice opened the scoring in the first 10 minutes following good work from Anthony Gordon ‚ and the Barcelona winger scored a second from the spot in the second-half. Ollie Watkins added a third late on.

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