National Teams

Williams expressed anger at the Uruguayan player after the rough tackle: 'It was completely unnecessary'

Nico Williams, Spain's substitute, expressed his disappointment on social media after being injured by Uruguayan player Nico de la Cruz in a World Cup match. Williams opened up about his battle with injury and his desire to return to the field.

Jun 29, 2026, 05:25 AMMaría Nieves Gómez1 lượt xem

The Spanish team conveniently won tickets to the knockout round of the 2026 World Cup, but after the match, they faced injury concerns. Substitute Nico Williams did not come off the field in good condition. On social networks, this player criticized Nico de la Cruz, the Uruguayan player who caused his injury.

For Uruguay, this was a disappointing evening. Not only did the South American team not show good performance in the tournament, but they also did not create any surprises against Spain. By the end of the match, frustration was building, leading to several harsh tackles and a red card for Agustín Canobbio. Williams became the victim of one of those tackles and suffered an injury.

According to information from the Spanish Football Federation, Williams' injury is not too serious, but he is still very frustrated. Williams struggled with injuries throughout last season. On social networks, he expressed his feelings: "Today was one of the hardest days of my life. I'm injured again after a difficult year, where injuries won many battles, but not the war. I overcame that with hard work, sacrifice and - above all - responsibility.

"It's been a year and a half of suffering, sadness, uncertainty and fear. I don't know when I will be able to play without pain or when I will be able to return to a normal life. I have even learned to live with the pain of simple things like going to the bathroom, getting in and out of the car, or simply enjoying everyday life.

"Finding joy in football is my top priority, along with regaining my smile. Because without a smile, without joy and without happiness, I cannot play at my best.

"Yesterday, I got injured again because an opponent reacted with disappointment, dissatisfaction and sadness about my situation. It is an action that, in my opinion, could have been avoided. It's completely unnecessary. But this won't stop me. I know God has a plan for me, and I will continue. I fought until the last moment to be able to return to what I love most: playing football, being happy and making others happy. The story is not over yet. We will meet again soon at this World Cup.

Spain will resume play next Thursday in Los Angeles. The European champion's opponent will be determined later, while Austria and Algeria are competing for second place in Group J to have the opportunity to meet this strong Southern European team.