For many reasons, a majority of them valid, Lamine Yamal seemed to become the face of this Spain side heading into Euro 2024 . For one it’s his youth, of course - a star at just 16. There’s also the potential for so many storylines, with his birthday the day before the final itself.
Then there’s the fact he plays for Barcelona - all this before we even approach the subject of his quality, which is clearly off the charts. But while he gives Spain traits they’ve been desperate for over the last few years and tournaments - guile around the box, balance in the forward line and, above all else, speed - he isn’t the only player to do so. He isn’t even the only starting forward who offers much of the same traits, if in mirror image.
And while Lamal has the headlines and the highlights, it’s his teammate on the opposite flank, Nico Williams , who has been growing into the tournament in seriously impressive fashion, enough so that he now looks perhaps the most important key to them getting past tough upcoming opponents, in pursuit of a third European Championship success in the space of just 16 years. If off-pitch proof is needed of his importance then it came in the post-match words from both head coach Luis de la Fuente and Uefa’s player of the game choice in Rodri. But if the on-pitch work is most important, Williams’ performance in the 4-1 win over Georgia speaks for itself: an assist for the equaliser, the third goal to make sure of the victory and - quite incre.
