The Spanish winger found the net first to set Spain on course for victory over England in the Euro 2024 final.

For Nico Williams, Euro 2024 was the tournament where he truly announced his arrival on the international stage.

The Athletic Bilbao star had long been regarded as one of Spain’s brightest young prospects, but this summer he proved that he belongs among the elite, playing a key role in Luis de la Fuente’s side lifting the European Championship trophy.

His outstanding summer culminated in a man-of-the-match display in the final against England, where he opened the scoring to give Spain the lead.

Williams earned his spot in the Spain squad after an impressive 2023/24 season in which he scored eight goals and provided 18 assists for Athletic Bilbao. Following a slow start at Euro 2024, he delivered an excellent performance in the 1-0 group stage victory over Italy.

“I remember the first match against Croatia – I didn’t play very well,” he told FourFourTwo. “The game wasn’t great for me personally, but the team still managed to win.”

He continued, “That European Championship will always stay in my heart. It gave me so much confidence. Playing alongside teammates like the ones we have in the national team and sharing that journey with them has been amazing.”

“I’ve had the chance to learn from players like Alvaro Morata and Dani Carvajal, who are legends of the national team,” he added.

Williams scored and set up goals in Spain’s 4-1 triumph over Georgia in the round of 16, with the team’s attacking approach allowing him to showcase his talent on a continental stage. “When I play for the national team, I get a lot of space,” he explained. “You can’t just focus on marking one player because there are so many threats. I have a great connection with many of my teammates. Playing with Pedri, who’s a magician with the ball and always finds you in perfect positions, is a privilege.”

The final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin saw Williams break the deadlock shortly after half-time against England.

“That goal against England was unbelievable,” he recalled. “It was a really fast move – I know Lamine, and he knew exactly where to put the ball for me. Scoring in a European Championship final felt surreal.”

“It’s definitely one of the most important moments of my career so far,” he admitted. “When you represent your country and win a title as big as the European Championship, you can’t help but get goosebumps. We were all overjoyed. That entire experience gave me so much belief in myself.”

Matt Frohlich – Video Manager

Chris Flanagan – Senior Staff Writer