The 2010 Amsterdam Fives football tournament kicked off on the 10th July on a glorious summer's day. Group A kicked off with our first ever participants from Italy (still the current World Champions if only until the Spain v Holland Cup Final the next day) in the form of Duevi 1997. They met Scotland 's representatives in the competition, CUGO.

If the World Cup had edgy, low-scoring contests in the opening round there was to be no repeat of this in our very own international tournament. In this match the goals flowed straight from the opening whistle and we were treated to 8 goals in the opening fixture. The Italians were showing unbelievable form in front of goal with nearly every shot arrowing into the back of the net, often from distance, and giving goalkeeper Stuart McEwan no chance whatsoever. Alessio Covella scored the opening two for the Italians before Antoni Gentile scored their third. Domenico D'Ambrosio rattled in two himself. Although the Italians scored 5 it was not a runaway victory as CUGO scored three goals themselves courtesy of Stephen Gullan, Stephen Kilshaw and Stephen Maxwell – a Stephen hat-trick if you like.

The final score of 5-3 got the tournament underway in style!

Wilhelmus A made the journey from Den Haag to make their second appearance in a eurofootballfives.com competition when they took on Dark Horses who were making their first appearance in Europe – and in Amsterdam – what a place to make that debut. The game was one of experience versus youth and it was the youth of Dark Horses who carried sway in this fixture when captain Richard Walker put his team in front. He made it 2-0 to put Dark Horses in the driving seat and when Tim Corby scored goal number three the team from England had completed a solid 3-0 victory.

The final teams remaining were Fugitive and Goldsmith Williams. Fugitive called in a last minute cancellation just 5 minutes before kick-off so Goldsmith Williams would have to wait to begin their campaign. The rules of the tournament meant Goldsmith Williams claimed a walkover win by the scoreline of 3-0.