Group D began with the fourth and final ADP Spain team – the Allstars – starting their campaign. There had been mixed results in the early stages so far for ADP – wins for ADP Madness and ADP Netherlands 1, a draw for ADP Netherlands 2 and defeats for ADP Royals and ADP Dream Team.

They were up against Team Also Ran. The Irish team played in the 2011 Prague Masters and finished 4th in their 6 team group before bowing out at the Plate Quarter-Final stage to the eventual winners (Wafty Crankers). They then played in the 2012 Valencia Fives and finished 3rd in their 6 team group. The Plate beckoned again where they went out 2-1 at the Quarter-Final stage to the defending champions, Kings Old Boys.

Team Also Ran pointed out to us that they had been on first in their previous two tournaments and without success – lost 5-2 to GBS Reds in the 2011 Prague Masters and 1-0 to Saga Louts at the 2012 Valencia Fives. Goals from Carlos Gonzalez and Taher Mortezaie ensured an unfortunate hat-trick here in Barcelona. ADP Allstars won 2-0. Hopefully the draw will be kinder to Team Also Ran in their next tournament.

Group D continued with Burritos FC with Mustard versus Sporting Gingham. Burritos FC had suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to ADP Madness in Group C. Could the Burritos with Mustard fare better?

Sporting Gingham were on debut but did have eurofootballfives.com experience in their ranks in the form of Joe Humphreys who had playing in the 2012 Budapest Fives and 2013 Lisbon Tournament for the ACE & the Swagmen team.

At half-time the teams could not be separated and we reached half-time all square at 0-0. Could either team find a winner in the second half?

Joe Humphreys pointed out to us in the pre-tournament social that he had played 5 eurofootballfives games in 2013 and was yet to be on the winning side. That was to change though as goals from Ben Farrett and Tom Taylor saw Sporting Gingham claim an opening game victory, 2-0.

Last but not least in Group D and it was Alphasights to kick-off. Alphasights first competed in our tournaments at the 2011 Krakow Trophy where they finished Plate Runners-Up in a 4-team round robin group. They entered the 2012 Valencia Fives tournament on a fine run of form with 5-1 and 4-1 victories and continued this by finishing joint top of their group with French side, Grant Thornton. They then went on to the Cup Semi-Finals before bowing out to eventual winners FC Miracle of Hungary. Earlier this year they played in the 2013 Plate Champion of Champions tournament in Budapest. They came as close as anyone could get to glory as they missed out on the Championship on goal difference and just the one goal!

They would start against ADP Allstars who already had a game under their belts. They were victorious in that one, 2-0, and were hunting for win number two.

The Spanish were looking good for that second win as Alberto March and Carlos Gonzalez both scored in the first half. Alphasights grew into the game in the second half and got on the scoresheet through Carsten Brinkmann but it would not be enough to earn his team some points as Taher Mortezaie's goal ensured ADP Allstars would take victory. Final score, 3-1.

Team Also Ran were back in action in Game 4 of Group D against Burritos FC with Mustard. It was a very important game for both teams as they had each slipped to defeat in their opening fixtures. Whilst there was still time to mount a challenge a second defeat would be a big blow.

Team Also Ran scored their first goal of the tournament in the opening period as Lorcan Aherne scored his first goal of the day and his fourth on tour with eurofootballfives.com. It was arguably his most important goal to date as it would earn all three points for his team.

There was to be no addition to the scoreline and Burritos FC with Mustard slipped to a second defeat but by the narrowest of margins.

The game that would take us to the halfway stage of Group D would be Sporting Gingham looking to make it two successive wins against Alphasights looking to avoid two successive defeats.

The opening games seemed to have set a pattern as Sporting Gingham continued their great start to the tournament. Goals from Tom Taylor and Ben Farrett meant they had another 2-0 victory to celebrate.

Alphasights in contrast slipped to a second defeat by a two goal margin and slipped to the foot of the table. All was not lost as they could reach the Plate if they were able to turn things around.

Sporting Gingham were looking at loftier heights as they were joint top of Group D.