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The devilish velocity of Nico Williams was one of many keys to Spain’s exhibition, extra within the recreation than within the end result, this Thursday in Gelsenkirchen (western Germany) the place they beat Italy 1-0 and certified for the spherical of 16 of the Euro Cup .
The 21-year-old left winger of Athletic Bilbao stood out within the second victory of the Spanish in group B of Euro 2024.
It was “my most full recreation with the nationwide group,” Nico highlighted in the course of the post-match press convention.
Williams’ dribbles, adjustments of tempo and velocity had been a martyrdom for the Italian protection, whose finest information of the night time was avoiding a rout in opposition to Luis de la Fuente’s males. Additionally they made the 50,000 individuals who stuffed the Area AufSchalke vibrate.
As anticipated, UEFA designated Williams as finest participant of the match, whose older brother (Iñaki) and membership teammate performs for the Ghana nationwide group, the native nation of his mother and father.
Discreet within the first recreation, the Athletic ahead introduced his marker, right-back Giovanni di Lorenzo, head-on, who had a fateful night time.
The one objective of the match got here from his wing. Williams crossed from the left, touched by Álvaro Morata and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma earlier than the ball bounced off the leg of Italian centre-back Ricardo Calafiori, who scored an personal objective.
Earlier than that objective, the attacker had already created quite a few possibilities all through the match.
First, he went excessive and put the ball on Pedri’s head, with Donnarumma taking out a commendable mitt (2) and, then, he completed huge when he had your entire objective, additionally along with his head (10).
Earlier than being changed, the crossbar spit out his blow (70).
“Immediately I felt unbelievable, while you go the primary time you may have extra confidence to face the second time,” declared the Spanish winger.
“We had an incredible recreation. The group labored like animals. We already confirmed in opposition to Croatia that we wished to do one thing nice,” he added concerning the collective dimension of La Roja’s good recreation.
After just a few early years in his profession through which he was within the shadow of his brother Iñaki, 30, Nico is on his solution to changing into one of many modern footballers in European soccer. He’s already dreaming of becoming a member of one of many large golf equipment on this switch market.
“I’ve all the time been the brother of and now I’m making a reputation for myself,” stated the youngest Williams at the start of April after shining within the Copa del Rey ultimate, through which Athletic was proclaimed champion on penalties after tying ( 1-1) with Mallorca.
Born in Pamplona (northern Spain), Nico had already competed in his first main competitors with La Roja in Qatar, residence of the 2022 World Cup.
Nonetheless, the younger attacker was a substitute within the group then coached by Luis Enrique.
Luis de la Fuente, present coach, has determined to guess on Nico as a substitute of Dani Olmo in one of many vital novelties of this Pink.
With extra vertical soccer than in different tournaments, Spain stands out for its two stilettos on the wings: Williams, on the left, and the very younger Lamine Yamal, 16 years outdated, on the proper.
“They’ve a present from God, only a few gamers have these qualities,” De la Fuente highlighted concerning the method and the imbalance of the 2 extremes.
Identified for his or her concord each on and off the pitch, Williams and Yamal have introduced freshness to Spain, which in simply two video games has offered its candidacy for the title in Germany.
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