Daren da ya gabaci babbar ranar rayuwarsu, 'yan wasan Spain da za su ci gasar cin kofin duniya ta 2010 sun taru a otal din Da Vinci da ke Sandton, arewacin Johannesburg. Sun sha chocolate mai zafi, sun ci croissants na chocolate, kuma sun yi magana. Shekaru goma sha shida bayan haka, daren da ya gabaci babbar ranar rayuwarsu, 'yan wasan Spain da ke fatan yin daidai da nasarar su za su taru a MC Montclair a New Jersey kuma su yi magana—amma a wannan karon, ba za a sami chocolate ba. Wasu al'adu ba a nufin a maimaita su ba.
"Ina tsammanin masana abinci sun dakatar da wancan!" in ji Mikel Merino, yana tsalle daga bas, bayan an ɗan dumama shi don wasan karshe, kuma yana nufar dakin dabaru a filin horo na Melanie Lane, inda za a fara shirye-shiryen Spain na karshe na biyu. "Mun kasance muna shan Cola Cao da pastries a cikin 'yan kasa da shekara 19 da 'yan kasa da shekara 21, muna kwaikwayon tawagar manya, amma ba yanzu ba. Kowa yana da nasa tsarin, amma babban abu shine a kiyaye shi a matsayin al'ada: wani wasa ne kawai, wani abu da muka san yadda ake yi, wani abu da muke yi tun muna shekara biyar kuma muke so. Ka ɗauke shi a matsayin abin jin daɗi, wata rana ce a rayuwarmu."
A wannan gasar cin kofin duniya mai cike da taurari, Spain ta nuna darajar aikin hadin gwiwa da sarrafawa | Sid Lowe
Kara karantawa
Wata rana. Wata shekara kuma. "Mai ban mamaki," Merino ya kira shi. "Kwanakin baya muna magana game da wannan: idan ka ba ni dama, da na sanya hannu don wannan—shiga cikin lokuta masu wahala don samun irin wannan shekara abin mamaki ne. Abubuwan da na sha, da iyalina ma." Kofin Premier League, wasan karshe na Champions League, haihuwar ɗansa na farko, da wasan karshe na gasar cin kofin duniya. Da raunin da ya kusa ɗauke shi duka. "Ina rayuwa kowane lokaci da farin ciki mai ban mamaki," in ji shi. "Ka yi tunanin inda nake 'yan watanni da suka wuce da kuma inda nake yanzu. Ina godiya da shi duka."
Kocin Spain, Luis de la Fuente, ya gaya wa Merino cewa zai jira shi, amma karayar damuwa a kafarsa ta yi wuya a gano ta da farko. "Lokacin da suka gaya mini game da raunina, ban yi tsammanin zan kasance a gasar cin kofin duniya ba," in ji mai shekaru 30. Merino ya yi tiyata a karshen watan Janairu, wanda a zahiri ya zama abin sauƙi domin a ƙarshe an sami haske—aƙalla suna yin wani abu. Ya shafe watanni biyu a kan sanduna. Sa'an nan ya fara aiki: da ƙarfi.
Wasu kwanaki ya shafe shi kaɗai, wasu kwanaki matarsa ta taimaka masa da ɗagawa da ɗauka, wanda ya ce ba daidai ba ne—tana da ciki, amma ta nuna ƙarfin da ba shi da shi, da ba zai yi nasara ba. Ya koyi cewa shi ma yana da ƙarfi, ƙarfi fiye da yadda ya taɓa tunanin. Duk da haka, ya buga mintuna 28 kawai tsakanin Janairu da gasar cin kofin duniya, yana tashi yana barin ɗansa sabon haihuwa, Marco, a baya. "Kasancewa a nan kawai nasara ce a gare ni," in ji shi. "In sha Allahu, za mu iya cin ta."
Duba hoto a cikakken allo
'Kasancewa a nan kawai nasara ce a gare ni,' in ji Mikel Merino. Hoton: Pablo Garcia/The Guardian
Cewa Spain na iya ci gaba da cin nasara, cewa sun kai wannan matsayi, yana da alhaki mai yawa a gare shi—fiye da kawai mai maye gurbin. Kamar Lautaro Martínez, a gefe guda a wasan karshe, Merino ya kasance mai ceto daga benci. "Ko a cikin mafarkina mafi ban mamaki ban yi tunanin wannan ba," in ji shi, amma duk da haka ya yi: wannan shi ne abin da yake shirya don shi, abin da yake yi. Ba ya zaune kawai, kuma ba ya jin haushi; yana nazari.
A Euro 2024, yana fitowa a matsayin mai maye gurbin a kan Jamus a Stuttgart, Merino ya zura kwallo a minti na 119 wanda ya kai Spain zuwa wasan kusa da na karshe. A nan, ya zura kwallo a minti na 91 a kan Portugal wanda ya kai Spain zuwa wasan kwata-kwata. Akwai matsala ɗaya kawai: matarsa da ɗansa ba su kasance a Dallas ba. Don haka kwana hudu bayan haka a Los Angeles, lokacin da suke, ya sake yin hakan a kan Belgium. Agogo ya nuna mintuna 85 da dakika 32 lokacin da ya shigo; ya nuna 87:27 lokacin da ya zura kwallon nasara. Ya yi taɓawa biyu kawai: kusan mahimmanci kamar kwallon kanta shi ne faɗakarwa don sa kwallon ta yi birgima da farko.
Mikel Merino ya dawo cikin da'ira tare da Spain a cikin labari mai ban sha'awa na uba
'Ya'ya maza da 'Ya'ya maza | Sid Lowe
Dukkan kwallaye uku an yi bikin su daidai, kuma yanzu wannan bikin ya shahara. Merino ya zagaya kusurwar tuta kamar yadda mahaifinsa, Ángel Miguel, ya yi lokacin da ya zura kwallo a makare don Osasuna a filin wasa na Stuttgart shekaru 33 da suka wuce. Idan ya ci gasar cin kofin duniya, zai iya cewa shi ne mafi kyawun dan wasa? "Mahaifiyata ba za ta yarda da hakan ba, ko da gasar cin kofin duniya," in ji shi, yana dariya. "Ina alfahari da bin sawun mahaifina, da koyan duk abin da na koya daga gare shi, kuma koyaushe zan girmama shi... ko da na sami lambar yabo!"
"Fitowa daga benci ba shiri ne mai kyau ga kowane dan wasa ba, amma lokacin da ka shiga tawagar kasa mai ƙarfi kamar wadda nake tare da Lautaro, kana daraja kowace dama da ka samu kuma kana ƙoƙarin taimaka wa tawagarka ko da kana wasa ko ba ka wasa ba. Kana mai da hankali kan halin yanzu, ka yarda da yanayin, kuma ka ga kanka a matsayin wanda zai iya kawo canji. Na yi imani da kaina da iyawata: duk lokacin da na shiga filin wasa, ina tsammanin zan iya yin tasiri. A wasan karshe, ina fatan kowa daga Spain ya zama jarumi. Kofin na mu duka ne, ba kawai 'yan wasa 11 a filin wasa ba."
Ya ci gaba: "Yana da mahimmanci a sami girman kai a matsayin dan wasan ƙwallon ƙafa. Tare da duk suka daga waje, kana buƙatar shi. Amma kuma kana buƙatar tawali'u. 'Yan wasa suna zuwa tawagar kasa saboda suna da mahimmanci a kulob dinsu, kuma suna samun sabon gaskiya. Yana da sauƙi a yi magana game da 'iyali,' amma lokacin da abubuwa ba su tafi daidai ba, lokacin da suke da wahala, shine lokacin da kake ganin shi da gaske. Godiya ga Luis da tawagar da ya gina, wanda ya mai da hankali kan zama mutumin kirki da farko sannan kuma dan wasan ƙwallon ƙafa mai kyau. Hakan yana taimakawa sosai lokacin da kuka shafe lokaci mai yawa tare. Mun san juna sosai, mun san lokacin da za mu yi wasa da lokacin da za mu yi shiru; wannan shine ƙarfin ƙungiyar. Bayan kwanaki 46 ko 47 tare, har yanzu muna..."
Duba hoto a cikakken allo: Kwallon Merino a makare ta zama mai nasara ga Spain a kan Portugal a zagaye na 16. Hoton: Jessica Tobias/AP
Akwai dakatawa, kuma Merino ya yi dariya. Kada ka yi kuskure. "Ba zan ce muna ɗokin ciyar da watanni biyu tare ba," in ji shi, yana fashewa da dariya. "Godiya ga Allah, mun kusa gamawa yanzu, amma eh, mu ƙungiya ce mai ƙarfi sosai. Shi ya sa muke nan." Wataƙila babu sauran chocolate mai zafi ko croissants, amma wasu suna rataye a kusa da PlayStation, wasu suna buga Mario Kart ko dara, kuma Dani Olmo da Unai Simón suna fafatawa a bas zuwa wasanni. Merino tsohon makaranta ne, ya fi son sobremesa: dogon tattaunawa bayan abinci, ba sa gaggawar barin tebur, "muna hira game da rayuwa, 'ya'yanmu, gaba, hutu."
"Ina tsammanin wasu biyu daga cikinsu suna shirin tafiya tare bayan gasar cin kofin duniya," in ji shi. "Wanda yake... mai ban mamaki... bayan wannan lokacin duka. Ba na tsammanin ganin kowa!"
Wannan ma'anar haɗin kai tana da tushe mai zurfi, wanda aka gina akan girmamawa kuma a kan dogon lokaci. Bayan wasan kusa da na karshe, De la Fuente ya ce akwai runguma ta musamman da wasu, lokacin da aka ba da damar jin daɗi ya shigo: duba abin da muka yi. Kofinsa na farko shine na Turai na 'yan kasa da shekara 19 a 2015, shekaru 11 da suka wuce yanzu. A tsakiyar tsakiyar filin Spain a wannan rana akwai Merino da Rodri. Simón yana kan benci. Goma daga cikin 'yan wasan na yanzu sun taka leda a karkashin De la Fuente a matakin matasa.
"Ina magana da kocin game da hakan kwanakin baya saboda ranar tunawa da waccan gasar ce," in ji Merino. "Muna cewa, 'yadda muka canza.' Amma ainihin abu ɗaya ne: ainihin abin kocin, na 'yan wasan da suka zo. Wannan shine ƙarfin ƙungiyar. Akwai ƙarin furfura, ƙarin wrinkles, ƙarin damuwa, amma tawali'u da sadaukarwa sun kasance.
"Luis yana da yawancinmu a 'yan kasa da shekara 17, 'yan kasa da shekara 19, 'yan kasa da shekara 21. Hakan yana da mahimmanci sosai. Ba kawai a gare shi ba, wanda ya san kowane ɗayanmu kuma ya san abin da za mu iya bayarwa, wanda ke da tabbaci ga kocin. Amma ga 'yan wasan ma: kun dandana komai tare da shi, mai kyau da mara kyau, kuma ba ku..."Ba ku buƙatar ba shi wani sabon abu ba, kun sani? Ya riga ya san abin da za ku iya bayarwa—ba ku buƙatar fitar da zomo daga hula ba. Ya zaɓe ku saboda ya san ko wanene ku a matsayin mutum da kuma a matsayin dan wasa. Tawagar ta san cewa yana da cikakken imani a gare su, kuma ya san cewa tawagar za ta ba da komai a gare shi."
Shi ya sa, lokacin da Spain ta yi rashin nasara a hannun Scotland a farkon mulkin De la Fuente—rashin nasarar da, daga waje, ya yi kama da zai yanke lokacinsa—har yanzu akwai imani. Tun daga lokacin, Spain ta yi rashin nasara sau ɗaya kawai a cikin wasanni 37, kuma wannan ta hanyar bugun fanareti ne a wasan karshe na Nations League. Sun ci Nations League, gasar cin kofin Turai, kuma yanzu suna cikin wasan karshe na gasar cin kofin duniya ma.
"Sau da yawa, ya fi game da imani fiye da abin da kake gani a zahiri," in ji Merino. "Muna da ƙungiya mai ƙarfi sosai, tsarar 'yan wasa masu matakin basira. Mun san cewa akwai yuwuwar a can—muna iya ganin abubuwa suna haɗuwa. Ko da wannan dare a Scotland, lokacin da mutane da yawa suka rubuta mu ko kuma suka yi tunanin wannan tsarar ba za ta yi nasara ba, mun amince da abin da muke yi. Mun san ƙungiyar tana da ban mamaki. Kuma duba—ya biya. An tabbatar da mu daidai."
Don haka yanzu Spain ce da Argentina. Messi da Lamine. Kuma wannan hoton. "Abin mamaki ne," in ji Merino. "Lokacin da na fara ganinsa, na yi tunanin AI ne—cewa ba ma gaskiya ba ne. Yana da ban dariya yadda rayuwa ke aiki wani lokaci. Tana haifar da waɗannan lokuta na musamman waɗanda suke jin kamar an rubuta su, amma daidaituwa ce kawai. Yana da ban mamaki cewa biyu daga cikin mafi kyawun buga wasan—da fatan Lamine zai kasance ɗaya daga cikinsu a nan gaba—suna raba hoto irin wannan. Yana da shekaru biyu da suka wuce yanzu, don haka ina tsammanin duk barkwanci an yi su a nan. Amma yana da ban mamaki.
"Me zan iya cewa game da Messi? Ka duba yadda yake wasa, yadda yake da kyau yana da shekaru 39. Ban sani ba ko wannan zai zama wasansa na karshe ko wasansa na karshe na karshe. Amma ƙalubale ne mai ban mamaki a yi wasa da shi. Zai zama wasa mai tsanani—dole ne ya kasance, wasan karshe ne na gasar cin kofin duniya. Za a sami taɓawa, fafatawa mai tsanani, amma shi ya sa akwai alkalin wasa: don kiyaye shi a karkashin iko. Muna buƙatar motsa kwallon da sauri. Ƙarancin lokacin da ta yi tare da kowane ɗayanmu, ƙarancin damar da suke da shi don yin laifi."
Sa'an nan kuma kawai a yi wasa, kamar kowace rana, kamar yadda Spain ta saba. "Na tuna abin da na ji lokacin kallon waccan tsarar ta 2010 tana yin tarihi," in ji Merino. "Kana tunanin hakan. Kana tunanin kasancewarka yaro a lokacin, kana kallon 'yan wasa waɗanda suke gumaka a gare ni da abokan wasana. Kana tunanin yadda ka yi mafarkin rayuwa a wannan lokacin wata rana, yadda kallonsu ya motsa ka. Sa'an nan kuma ka gane cewa yanzu kai ne wanda ke wakiltar ƙasarka, kai ne wannan sabon tsarar yara ke kallo—kuma abu ne mai sihiri."
