Group B began with two Dutch teams on Pitch A as RFM met Athletico Do Hollande. RFM entered two squads into the 2009 Amsterdam Fives under the names Tom Tom One and Tom Tom Go. The two squads had mixed fortunes on the day with one squad making the Cup Semi-Finals before going out to the eventual winners, Bull Heads, and the other squad narrowly coming runners-up in the Plate Final to Plate specialists the CSF. In 2010, they finished 5th in their 6 team group to miss out on the knock-out stages. They come back with a vengeance in 2011.

They were dealt a particularly tough opening game though. Athletico Do Hollande were playing in their first Amsterdam Fives following two tours to Portugal and the Algarve Open. In the 2010 Algarve Open, they became the first Dutch team to win a eurofootballfives tournament and most recently they became the first team ever to retain a title when they won the 2011 Algarve Open despite a very strong field that contained no less than 5 previous winners. They were looking for a hat-trick of victories.

Athletico Do Hollande continued their Portugal form when John Hanst scored their first of the day. They were not to have it their own way though as Richard Dewsbury equalized for RFM. RFM were very much in this game and were far from outclassed by their opponents – it was already clear they had a stronger squad compared to 12 months ago.

Fernando Pique, making his first eurofootballfives appearance in an Athletico shirt, restored the lead to make it 2-1 and when Jerrel Fraenk made it 3-1 the chances of an upset were over. Athletico Do Hollande were made to work hard for this victory but they were up and running. RFM should take heart in defeat.

On Pitch C we saw the remaining teams of Group B start their challenge as Ireland's Deportivo Dooradoyle kicked off against The Gunners. Both teams were making their first appearance with us and there was a blank canvas for them to display their footballing artistry (before, dare we say it, in the pubs of Amsterdam later they show us their piss-artistry?).

It was an entertaining first period which saw three goals. The Gunners edged it 2-1 as Frankie Notaro and Daniel Sparks goals outgunned (excuse the pun) the strike from Mike Kelliher. There was further scoring in the second period with two more goals – the teams shared them which meant The Gunners ran out 3-2 winners with Tommy Powell scoring the goal that proved to be the winner. Keith Lynch was the man who scored the second Deportivo goal which, sadly for them, was in a losing cause.

It was a great start for The Gunners in the land of Bergkamp and Overmars as they aimed to do what the Wenger boys had failed to do in the last few years and win a trophy. Deportivo Dooradoyle had shown enough spirit and performance that they would do alright in this competition.