The 2012 Barcelona Fives kicked off in Group A with a heavyweight contest between Rapid Bosco Navas and Budapest Celtic Tigers.

Rapid Bosco Navas are one of our favourite competing teams across our tour destinations. They made their debut in the 2008 Barca Fives where they completed a fine 2-1 Cup Final victory over Scotland's Red Light Runners to lift the trophy. Since then they have not managed the same glory although came close in the 2011 Barcelona Fives last April. Their record reads;

November 2008: Winners.

June 2009: Won their group before losing on penalties in the Cup quarter-finals.

November 2009: Finished joint top of their group before going out in the Cup QF.

June 2010: Finished 2 nd in their group before losing on penalties in the Cup Semi-Finals.

April 2011: Runners-Up.

November 2011: Finished 2 nd in their group behind eventual winners Midshires FC. Then, went on and Lost 3-0 in Cup Semi-Finals to Hungary's FC Miracle.

Their opponents, Budapest Celtic Tigers, are less experienced in our tournaments having only played once before but it was a sensational performance finishing Runners-Up in the 2011 Budapest Fives to Olympic Phil Babb (who have won every tournament they've played in!).

We expected an even contest and that's what we got with the teams level, 0-0, at the break. In the second half we saw goals but there was still nothing to split the teams as two goals from the Tigers' Mark Servatius were cancelled out by goals from Juaninho and Luis for the Spanish. Final score, 2-2, and what a start to the tournament!

Next up was Bozeat All Stars versus Doofies Dynamos. The former made their debut at the 2011 Krakow Trophy (at the same venue that England will use as their Euro 2012 training base) and had quite a debut. They finished 2 nd in their opening group behind Dutch team and eventual Runners-Up, CEPL. They progressed to the Cup group and finished 4 th overall in the tournament on a stunning summer's day in Poland.

Ireland's Doofies Dynamos were making their debut and came into the game on the back of a big night out in Barcelona. Could the Estrella-fuelled Dynamos power their way to victory? If so, they would need to come from behind as the All Stars struck first through Marty Legg. It was a goal that would give the All Stars a lead at half-time.

There was no addition to the score in the second half and Bozeat All Stars were the early leaders in Group A.

The last team to get on the field in Group A was Hertford Brigands. The Brigands were also making their debut so it would be our first look at them. At the pre-tournament get together they were playing down their chances of glory…but could that just be mind games?

Their first opponents were Rapid Bosco Navas which was always going to be a tricky opener. The Spanish, looking to make the Cup for a 7 th successive time, already had a point on the board after Game 1 and made further progress when they opened the scoring in this game through Luis for a 1-0 half-time lead.

The Brigands now had to chase the game and their task was made doubly difficult when Basem made it 2-0. The three points were then sealed by Rapid's Juaninho for a 3-0 victory. Rapid Bosco Navas now took the lead of Group A. The Hertford Brigands still had 3 further group games to get their title challenge on track.

Game 4 saw Budapest Celtic Tigers meet Doofies Dynamos. The Hungarian side were aiming for 3 points to join Rapid Bosco Navas at the top of the table. Doofies Dynamos were looking for their first points of the day and to move up the table.

Peti Hegedus drew first blood for the Tigers and from there they never looked back. Hegedus himself scored two more for a hat-trick whilst Mark Servatius also claimed a hat-trick to take his personal tally to 5 in 2 games – one to watch for the top goalscorer award. Martin Abel scored twice and Michael Globits also found the back of the net as the team from Budapest ran out comfortable winners 9-0. They went top in magnificent style.

The Dynamos would need to put this result behind them as they still had 2 group games to go and plenty to play for.

The game that took us to the halfway stage in Group A saw Bozeat All Stars take on Hertford Brigands. With victory in their opening fixture, Bozeat All Stars continued that form into this game as Marty Legg scored for the second game in a row. When Neil Fox made it 2-0 it looked like a 100% record was on the cards for the All Stars.

Hertford Brigands had other ideas though and the half-time oranges must have had quite an effect. In the second period they reduced arrears to 2-1 when James Green scored his side's first of the day. The deficit was then wiped out when Duncan Camp scored to make it 2-2. It was a great comeback that earned the Brigands their first point in the group and meant Bozeat All Stars were part of a triumvirate of teams locked on 4 points at the top.