Neco reflects on tragedy
DOHA. - Neco Williams broke down in tears on TV following Wales’ World Cup comeback against the USA.
That’s after revealing his grandad died the day before the crunch clash.
Gareth Bale’s 82nd minute penalty saw the Welsh fight back for a 1-1 draw after going behind to Timothy Weah’s first-half strike.
But the game was an emotional one for Nottingham Forest wing-back Williams.
The ace broke down in tears as the two sides saluted their travelling fans in Qatar.
Williams was clearly upset as he soaked up the applause from the Red Wall.
And as the camera followed Williams off the pitch, he said into the lens: “That was for you, grandad.”
The defender then took to social media to reveal his loved one passed away on Sunday.
Williams called it the “toughest news” he’s ever received after getting a call from his mum.
And the fan favourite added he was “crying all day” before stepping up to the plate for his country.
Thanking his Wales teammates for their support, Williams tweeted: “Yesterday was the toughest news I’ve ever had to face and that was listening to my mum tell me my grandad passed away last night.
“To go from crying all day to start in a World Cup game was extremely tough but I got through it from the support of my teammates and family.
“So I dedicate that game and an important point to him.”
Fans were quick to comfort Williams, with one replying: “Your grandad would’ve been so proud of the shift you put in tonight.”
Another said: “Unbelieved you managed to play in a game of that magnitude with all that playing on your mind. He’d have been proud of you.”
One wrote: “You did brilliantly to cope with all of that emotion and put in what was arguably a MOTM performance.”
Another added: “You did him proud Neco, he was looking down on you wearing that shirt beaming with pride.”