Football X-ray of Spanish youth patrol ahead of 2026 World Cup

“I’ve said before that we are a great team, all these people deserve it. “We are European champions and now we are aiming for the World Cup” said Nico Williams After the coronation of spain . The striker scored a goal and was chosen as the best player in the final against England.

The Athletic Bilbao striker is confident. He has the same confidence and personality that he shows when he plays, to declare . After being champion of the continent, he is aiming even higher.

Your expectations do not diminish. They are on their way to the top with him. They seem to be his shadow in an upward career that seems without a ceiling.

He is one of the leaders of a group that wants to conquer the world. The other? Lamine Yamal, his partner . They are the two big stars who have consolidated themselves in the Euro Cup. They both share a room and are regularly seen together. They declare themselves brothers, even though they have known each other for a short time.

Their friendship dates back to a first call in which they met, last March. Luis de la Fuente asked Nico to take care of the youngster, in a clever move by the coach. The two developed an important bond.

“This is a good example for him. Lamine copies everything Nico does. Nico gets up, gets ready and goes to look for Lamine. “Come on, we can’t be late.” “, they assured the Spanish Football Federation at the time.

Nico, for his part, joked about the relationship he has with him: “I already told him (Yamal) that he should learn from ‘his father’, which is me,” he said.

Both led a generation that won their team’s fourth European title. Of course, Yamal’s case is deeply impressive. He is already used to breaking records due to his young age.

Born on July 13, 2007, he was the only minor in the competition and turned 17 one day before the final. . It’s him the youngest to make his debut (16 years and 338 days), play a knockout phase (16 years and 353 days), to mark (16 years and 362 days) and win the European Championship (17 years and one day). All in the continental tournament, of course, as their records increase at club level.

During the development of the championship, there was a situation that went around the world. The young Barcelona striker had to combine the Euro with his studies. In the middle of the championship, the ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) ended thanks to online classes.

“I go to class and every day they give me different homework. Maybe they give me more things to do at home, but I do it every day. If they see that we are in the quarter-finals or the round of 16, then they don’t bother me much. But on the days off, when they know that I’m not doing anything, they tell me ‘Do this, do that’,” the young man explained on the official account of the Spanish team.

He has already experienced success at a young age. He is doomed to be surrounded by this throughout his career. His teammates are clear that he can achieve a historic career. Between tears and hugs after the victory, Rodri, one of the greatest leaders of the Red Fury, approached him, grabbed his face and said to him face to face: “Keep working, my brother. Keep working because you can get what you want. “, I ” will guide you. FIt was a gesture from the best player of the Euro to the best young player of the tournament, both visibly excited.

Yamal’s youth is reflected in Red Fury’s wide age range. Jesus Navas is 37 years old, that is, 20 years older than the left-hander. The current winger is the only survivor from the 2010 world champion squad. He is logically the oldest member of a group where youth abounds.

De la Fuente has called up seven players over 30 years old. Aymeric Laporte (30 years old), Ayoze Pérez (30 years old), Álvaro Morata (31 years old), Dani Carvajal (32 years old), Nacho (34 years old), Joselu (34 years old) and Navas (37 years old). Despite this, the young range allows them to lower the average age.

They were in fact the eleventh youngest team in the continental competition with an average age of 27. (like Romania and Portugal, tenth and twelfth respectively). The Czech Republic is the youngest with 25.3, while Germany is the oldest with 28.5.

Hispanic youth is concentrated from the midfield. Yamal (17 years old), Pedri (21 years old), Fermín López (21 years old), Nico Williams (22 years old) and Álex Baena (22 years old) are minors of 23 years old. There are also four others of 25. They are present and future.

The group of young men do not understand the pressure. With a Euro behind them, they are already in the running for the 2026 World Cup. Their credentials are there. . Other hopefuls excluded from the continental tournament could also be added to the event. Gavi (19) And Alexandre Baldé (20) They have suffered from injuries throughout the season. Oihan Sancet (24) And Eremy Pino (21) They seemed to have options, but they were excluded from the call. As, Paul Cubarsi (17) It has been considered for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

With a string of players with a future ahead of them, it is clear that they will be one of the teams to beat at the World Cup which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.