“Dos Ferraris contra Italia” – “Two Ferraris against Italy”
That was the headline in Marca, Spain’s biggest sports newspaper, above a picture of the precocious talents that are Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal before the country’s Group B win against the current European champions at Euro 2024.
With their shared youth – Williams turns 22 on 12 July this year, Yamal will be 17 a day later, the day before the Euro final – the two wingers represent the brightest of futures for Spain’s footballing fortunes. The duo again impressed as Spain set up a quarter-final against Germany with a 4-1 win against Georgia and are seen as key in taking their country to a potential greatness not seen since they won the Euros in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
Williams and Yamal shine for Spain
Williams scored his first goal of the tournament as Spain came from behind to beat Georgia, a stunning individual effort, while Yamal again shone on the opposite flank. Williams became the only player on record at the Euros – since 1980 – to score a goal, assist a goal, and complete 100% of his passes in a game he started, while Yamal’s six chances created against Georgia was the most by any player under 21 in a Euro knockout game.
“The Williams brothers, now team-mates at Athletic Club, have since become leaders in the fight against discrimination in Spanish football, where an undercurrent of racism still constantly bubbles insidiously beneath the surface.”
Despite their new found security, life was far from easy for the Williams family. Nico has found a new soulmate in the national side, he has a tight bond with the 16-year-old phenomenon Yamal. Online images of the pair dancing around, presumably by way of preparing a goal celebration, have gone viral.
A bright future for Spain
Fast, explosive, seemingly inexhaustible, Nico is a right-footed winger who can play on both wings or even start from a more central position. He has already made 17 appearances for Spain and it seems like a matter of time before the biggest clubs in the world beckon. In December, Nico signed a contract extension at Athletic Club that could keep him there until 30 June 2027.
For the time being though he still has unfinished business with Spain, the country whose shirt he wears with distinction and pride, as they prepare to face Germany in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
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