Doha: On Wednesday, the Williams family of Spain experienced joy at the World Cup. On Thursday, the same Williams family, also from Ghana, experienced heartbreak.

Iñaki and Nico Williams, brothers from the Williams family, have distinguished themselves by representing two different countries at the World Cup in Qatar. They were born in Spain, but their parents are Ghanaians.

Nico was a member of Spain's young team that defeated Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday in the tournament's most exciting performance so far. He made his World Cup debut as a second-half substitute in Spain's record-breaking victory.

A day later, big brother Iñaki made his World Cup debut for Ghana, losing 3-2 to Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

That meant a complicated 24 hours in the family home back in Spain with celebrations for 20-year-old Nico no doubt swiftly followed by commiserations for 28-year-old Iñaki. The same for the two brothers, who Ghana coach Otto Addo said both feel as Spanish as they do Ghanaian.

“I know that they both have a good strong relationship with their mother and their fatherland,” was how Addo put it.

Because of his love for his parents’ country, Iñaki’s integration into the Ghana team has been very easy, Addo added, even if he was born in Bilbao and raised in the Basque region

Iñaki, a forward just like Nico, played the whole game for Ghana against Portugal and stood in the centre circle at Stadium 974 in Doha at the end with his hands on his head and looking bitterly disappointed with the loss.

“Maybe for some, it’s difficult to understand but I think it’s really possible to have two countries in your heart,” Addo said of Iñaki. “And surely he has Ghana in his heart from day one. But also Spain.”

The story behind the situation involves their parents’ decision to leave Ghana nearly 30 years ago to find a better life in Europe.

Never could Felix and Maria Williams have thought they would end up with two sons playing at the World Cup when they trekked barefoot through parts of a desert and climbed a fence to get into Spain in the early 1990s. Maria was pregnant with Iñaki at the time.

They settled in Bilbao and both boys grew up to be soccer players. They still play club soccer together for their hometown team Athletic Bilbao.

The brothers’ careers have always been connected, even after Iñaki decided this year to switch allegiance to Ghana and go back to his roots. Them playing for two different countries in the space of 24 hours was not the first time it has happened.

Iñaki made his debut for Ghana on Sept. 23 this year against Brazil. Nico made his first appearance for Spain against Switzerland a day later.