After their convincing run in the group stage, Spain were set to face Georgia in the Round of 16 of the Euros. The Spaniards ultimately sealed a triumphant win but the men of the moment were the two trailblazers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Despite Georgia opening the scoring, Spain replied with their equaliser as the conclusion of the first half was close to being reached. Nico Williams took the ball in stride, and cut it back to Rodri, who finished it with immaculate precision.
Soon after the second half began, Lamine Yamal cut in on his left foot and provided the perfect dipping diagonal cross, which was met by Fabian Ruiz’s header to give the Spaniards their inevitable lead.
Yamal and Williams kept displaying their dynamism, which kept Spain’s game flowing for much of the second half. Yamal was unfortunate not to add to his goal tally, as he found himself in scoring positions various times.
On the other hand, Nico was far more clinical; after 75 minutes, he took the ball in transition, beat the Georgia defense, and slotted a thunderous strike past the impenetrable Giorgi Mamardashvili to give Spain their third of the game.
Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, aged 16 and 21, respectively, have made quite a name for themselves in these Euros. They have demonstrated exceptional 1v1 dribbling abilities, paired with frequent chance creation. The potential for this immensely talented duo is limitless and they could take this Spanish team far in this tournament based solely on their individual talents.
Despite having not scored yet in the tournament, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal boasts the distinction of being the only player in the Euros with 11 chances created alongside 11 dribbles completed—a testament to the Spainiard’s outstanding playmaking abilities.
What makes witnessing this duo’s success an even greater joy is just how well they get along with each other off the field. Yamal and Nico were both seen playing rock, paper, and scissors to decide who would be the first to obtain a bottle of water after the conclusion of the game.
Although the finances of bringing Nico Williams to Barcelona prove to be challenging, if the Catalans pull it off, they are sure to have an established set of starting wingers for the next decade.
Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams own the Euros round of 16 stage
