Ferran Torres, situated at the modest ground of SV Aasen 1928, shares a jest surrounding Lamine Yamal’s skills whilst enjoying a friendly game of darts with Phil Foden and donning David Villa’s persona. When probed about the imminent figure about to confront him alongside his Spanish colleagues, he playfully retorts “‘Mama’, the next shot, would require triple the curl to surpass him.” He emphasises the importance of visualisation, belief, and seizing the right opportunity, especially after witnessing ‘Mama’s splendid form the prior evening.
Here, ‘Mama’ is Giorgi Mamardashvili, Georgia’s towering 6ft 6in goalkeeper, who has an impressive tally of saves under his belt. Torres’s succeeded at threading his shot past Albania’s Thomas Strakosha, thus securing a flawless group stage for the Spanish team and nine points on the board. However, this was their only self-scored goal since their initial game’s mid-point, hinting at narrowing margins.
“We were unbeatable during the group phase, injecting us with assurance,” acknowledges Torres, though he recognises the evolving dynamics. He recollects their victorious encounter with Italy and their semi-final departure that continues to sting. He asserts that performance aside, victory is now crucial.
Spain’s performance has exceeded all expectations, surpassing any team’s efforts. Anyone, that is, outside the confines of the Öschberghof; the team, ambling down from their secluded forest hotel in Donaueschingen for daily training, retained superior faith than the rest. Torres underscores their unwavering faith, repeating “without a doubt” after brief pauses, his countenance lit up with a grin.
He advocates the belief in one’s ability as the inaugural step towards any endeavour, embodying this mantra throughout. Their conviction may be diminished externally but with every passing game, the faith increases. Ignoring external distractions, as per Ferran Torres, is key to their progress.
This doesn’t seem like a man who is disinterested in external interference. Conversely, he might be someone who is affected and yet combative towards it. Could the scepticism and negative feedback actually serve as a motivation to defy expectations and silence critics? Torres hesitates, “It depends… it depends…”
There’s been a great deal of fuss over him dubbing himself ‘the Shark’ — arguably, too much. Yet, it does hint towards certain aspects of his persona. He’s also spoken about seeking help from a psychologist, to harness the immense pressure he faces. Xavi Hernández once lauded him as the most resilient player he’s ever met. There have been instances where he seemed to be fuelled by the desire to prove people wrong, boasting a certain aggression about him. However, he currently seems rather relaxed. His calm demeanour whilst analysing his own performance may reflect his growth and the influence of his surroundings.
“At times when the domestic media doesn’t back you, it can be quite disheartening,” he comments, “It doesn’t exactly ignite a fire within you; it’s…” He chuckles. “I won’t mention the word. One should be supportive of their homeland. It’s not as if they were against us; rather, they perhaps lacked the conviction we carried. Rarely do people believe in us as we do in ourselves. I wouldn’t say it’s an enabler because we’re familiar with the fact that one day they doubt you, the other day they back you.”
As of now, their faith in him seems to be increasing, with more and more people rallying behind him. The problem Torres faces is that the recent Spanish triumph is largely attributed to wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, limiting his chances. Even his appearances in the Barcelona starting lineup have been sporadic, casting doubt over his inclusion in the German side. Luis de la Fuente, however, has confidence in a player who has consistently scored goals when none other could, a trait exemplified in the match against Albania.
Among the ten team alterations, Torres’s goal took his tally to 20 in 44 matches; none have matched this scoring record. There’s a bit of Villa reflected in his game style and precise finishing. “He’s my role model,” he states, “I aspire to match him someday.” He is certain of contributing to the team, even if it’s as a substitute player.
“I manage to score while playing with my club — the stats can confirm — nevertheless something unique occurs when I wear this jersey, a certain internal sentiment. I’ve experienced pride at a juvenile level with the national team. It’s beyond a team, our fortitude is the unity. Making the most of given opportunities; making them significant and you’ll get more. Scoring is imperative for a forward, it’s a declaration: ‘I’m present, I’m prepared.’ The starting eleven often exhaust the opposing team, allowing us to enter with vigor and change the game dynamics.
“Perhaps our game style is more straightforward than before; we might not possess the ball as much. Maybe it’s slightly more liberating. Each coach adds his personal touch to the game. Nonetheless, beyond style, what stands out is our camaraderie on the field. The energy, rapport, and environment: complete involvement from every participant. Watch us practise and the synchronicity is apparent. Above all else, there’s empathy, cooperative interaction. There is no hostility; there’s competitiveness, but it’s devoid of animosity. Naturally, we all want to make the cut, but in a healthy manner, which is extremely vital.”
What’s his opinion on Lamine Yamal? A thrilling smile spreads across Ferran’s face. “He ought to be disqualified. His performance at a tender age of 16 is remarkable!”
Technically, he is disqualified, or so they say: labour beyond 11p.m. is forbidden for those under 18. No one is genuinely concerned about it, but Bild suggests that if the last 16’s match extends to extra-time, technically, he can’t participate. That, theoretically, offers a chance. Torres chortles. “Truthfully, I’ll turn him in to the authorities after 14 July,” he jestingly says.
“First, let him assist us in clinching the victory. I wasn’t aware of that; I’m headed to inform him now and have a bit of fun: there’s an element of amusement here. Away from the field, we spend all our time together: there aren’t cliques. I play darts, a skill acquired in Manchester alongside Phil Foden and the rest of the crew. My skill is acceptable, although not as impressive as the rest: they have years of experience, often accompanied by a pint at the pub.”
Typically, I’m not one to frequently follow football. However, I make an exception during the Euros because the teams playing are potential competitors for us. We recently focused on the match between Georgia and Portugal. Yes, we’ve previously triumphed over Georgia with scores of 7-1 and 3-1 during the qualifiers. But it’s misleading to rely on past victories as it’s a new game now and the group stage is over. Anything can happen moving forward. Our strategy will be to approach one game at a time. If we reach the final minute of the game against Georgia with a lead, then that’s great. At this point, victory, by any means necessary, is the only thing that matters. Hopefully, on July 15th, irrespective of our performance, people all over the world will celebrate our win. — Guardian