Ollie Watkins Left Out in Cold as England Crumbles Against Argentina

Former Aston Villa striker Gary Thompson has expressed his disappointment in Ollie Watkins' lack of game time during England's World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina on Wednesday.

Watkins only played six minutes during the tournament - as a late substitute in the dead rubber final group game against Panama - and was not turned to by Thomas Tuchel as the Three Lions chased the game in Atlanta.

What Happened?

The German manager bought on three defenders with the score at 1-0, and Ivan Toney and Marcus Rashford after Argentina turned it round to lead 2-1. Watkins' limited playing time has left many questioning his role in the team.

Why It Matters for Ollie Watkins

Thompson told BBC Radio WM, "I'm disappointed for Ollie because he never got a sniff at all. I kept thinking, especially when we needed to stretch the play in the second half, we needed someone like him to send the ball to in attack."

What Comes Next?

Thompson also praised Villa team-mate Morgan Rogers, who started the last-four tie and assisted England's goal. "Rogers showed a lot of intelligence and ability on the right-hand side and put in a lovely cross for the goal for Anthony Gordon," Thompson added.

The Villa players held their own and did all right, but Thompson felt bad for Ezri Konsa being left out. "You just have to suck these things up and carry on," he said.

Ollie Watkins' lack of game time has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. The 27-year-old had a great end to the season, scoring crucial goals for Aston Villa. It remains to be seen whether he will get more opportunities in the future.

The World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina has left England's fans disappointed, and Ollie Watkins' limited playing time has added to the frustration.