One for Ghana and the other for Spain, teammates at Athletic Bilbao, thank their parents for their curious present, who “risked their lives” for them.
There are few footballers who manage to get into the history of the World Cups. Some do it through their outstanding performances, others through statistics and others by starring unpublished curiosities. In this last category will enter the brothers Iñaki and Nico Williams: will play the Qatar World Cup 2022 for different selections: Ghana and Spain, respectively. The same thing happened with Jerome y Kevin-Prince Boateng in South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.
The hard story of the parents of Nico and Iñaki Williams
Nicholas (20 years old) and Iñaki (28) are the feeling of Athletic de Bilbao. But before arriving in the Basque Country, his parents Félix and María had to go through an odyssey from Ghana and arrived as refugees in Spanish territory. “These are stories that my mother gives voice to, but they continue to happen in families that leave their home. We have been lucky to have a story with a happy ending. But many people fall by the wayside. It is what struck me the most, that my mother had to leave behind people who did not survive that road”, expressed Iñaki in dialogue with Marca.
Then he added: “We were not aware of everything that happened until they told us when they were older. Now you value more everything they did to give us both a better life. We are always grateful to them. There were times in our childhood that we missed them, but now you understand that They gave everything they had so that Nico and I have this present”.
How the brothers decided to play for different national teams
Iñaki was born in Bilbao and went through the youth team of Spain. He spent many years in the Sub-21, in pre-lists, he debuted with Vicente Del Bosque in the stage prior to the 2016 Euro, but he did not play in the contest. Until the opportunity came with Ghana: “The president of the Federation and the coach They proposed it to me before qualifying for the World Cup. I told them that I should think about it, meditate and talk about it with the people who love me. I had a talk with my grandfather in the summer that marked me, because I was not very clear about it. He has worked a lot in his life and He told me that he would very much like to see me with Ghana in the World Cup and try to take it to the top. The seven o’clock train passed at seven and I decided to get on. I do not regret anything. I think it will enrich me a lot as a person, this even more, and sportingly”.
As for Nico, born in Pamplona, at 20 he received the summons that his brother sought so much and will fulfill his dream: “I make my decisions and he has to make his. Obviously I would have liked to be able to play with him. But everyone chooses their path. He has taken this one, I respect it and I will always support it”sentenced.
Ghana and Spain can meet in the quarterfinals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup
That two brothers face each other in a World Cup happened twice: South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. both, with Jerome y Kevin-Prince Boateng representing the Germany y Ghana, respectively. How would the Williams brothers experience a match in the quarterfinals? “Well, the truth is that it would be a bit difficult for me. We have always played together, except in neighborhood games. It would be nice and I hope it happens, even if it is difficult for all of us at home”Nico explained in dialogue with Marca.
“A couple of blows to the back of the neck before the game is sure to take. I sign it with blood to be able to play a World Cup quarterfinal against my brother. I hope it repeats itself with us… and I fall on the side of Ghana”threw Iñaki, to which his younger brother quickly replied: “We’ll see about that! Of course, we would change the shirt”.
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