Sublime: Spain’s Fabian Ruiz scores the second goal against Georgia at the Cologne Stadium. — AFP
COLOGNE: The middle of the Euros last 16 is a bit early for picking potential players of the tournament but a flurry of football fans on social media believe Spain duo Fabian Ruiz and Nico Williams must be in the running.
The former has scored two goals at Euro 2024 already, a superb finish in the opening 3-0 win over Croatia and a crucial goal for a 2-1 lead against the Georgians. But he has also been commanding in midfield – pressing, tackling and creating in equal measure.
His pass for winger Williams’ first goal of the tournament in Sunday’s 4-1 comeback win against Georgia was sublime.
“To have a player like Fabian Ruiz serving me passes like the one for my goal is like a thousand blessings. Marvellous. To score a goal like that one I did felt fantastic. I feel like my parents can be proud of me,” Athletic Bilbao’s Williams told Euro2024.com.
The Paris St Germain midfielder is complemented perfectly in the midfield three by man-of-the-match Rodri, who scored a typical edge-of-the-box goal, and Barcelona’s Pedri.
While the latter two are household names in European football, Fabian has been a slow burner. The 28-year-old came through at Real Betis but had to leave for Napoli in Serie A to really shine on the big stage.
He left for PSG before Napoli’s Serie A title in 2023 but won Ligue 1 in the past two seasons and could be adding a Euro winners’ medal if he and is teammates continue to impress.
Coach Luis de la Fuente name-checked his midfielder and Williams after Spain racked up the biggest margin of victory for a team who conceded first in a Euro game.
“I think they are two of the best players in the world in their positions. In my opinion, they are world class,” he said.
“I have such luck to be able to count on them. They have so much talent that, if you add them to the wonderful collective we have, that’s what we need to go far in this Euros.”
Williams is only 21 and the tricky winger already won man of the match in the dominant 1-0 group-stage win over Italy.
Three-time winners Spain, joint-favourites with bookmakers for the title alongside stuttering England, are the only side to win all four matches so far.
Beating Georgia was the first time since triumphing at Euro 2012 that Spain have won a knockout game in normal time at a major tournament.
But Williams showed his human side at the end rather than just looking forward: “I want to congratulate Georgia. They were terrific rivals, I was impressed with them and I hope that they do well in the future.”
Hosts Germany come next in the last-eight on Friday in Stuttgart. Jamal Musiala might be rivalling the Spain pair as potential player of the tournament, but at least one candidate is going out. — dpa
