Neco Williams plays for Wales just 24 hours after grandad’s death as star left in tears on pitch
Neco #Neco
Neco Williams turned out for Wales just 24 hours after his grandfather passed away.
The defender was left in tears on the pitch at the full-time whistle following their 1-1 draw with the US in their World Cup opener on Monday night.
Nottingham Forest man Williams was left visibly emotional at full time and revealed he had been playing against the Americans despite suffering personal tragedy.
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Taking to his Instagram after the match, he wrote: “Yesterday was the toughest news I’ve ever had to face and that was listening to my mum tell me my grandad past away last night. He’s been everywhere around the world to watch me play football from when I first started playing at Liverpool at 6 years old.
“He’d never tell me if I had a good game because he always said I have to get better and better each day and that’s why I am where I am now!
“So I dedicate this game all to him because I know he’s up there watching down on me very proudly.
“For everyone please cherish you have with loved ones because you never know when it can get taken away from you.”
On the pitch, Gareth Bale’s penalty was enough to salvage a point for Wales, who were punished for a lacklustre first half when Timothy Weah slotted home just before half-time.
But Wales, not for the first time, showed their fighting spirit, and fully deserved their first World Cup point since 1958.
After a poignant and tear-jerking national anthem, there was no shortage of emotion at full time. Indeed, when the final whistle blew, Williams fell to his knees, struggling to fight back the tears as he tried to process what had just happened.
As he was making his way off the field, the former Liverpool starlet then looked into the TV camera and said: “That was for you grandad,” in another touching tribute.
He then looked up to the sky as he walked towards the sidelines, where he was comforted by several of his team-mates.
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