We were at the 2017 Barcelona Fives Cup Semi-Final stage and from the 32 teams who started the day we were down to the final 4 – already an achievement for those who were still in the hunt for glory. The first Cup Semi-Final would see Naranjitos versus Elcombe Old Boys. These were the two most experienced Barcelona Fives teams with the Spanish playing for the fourth year in a row and Elcombe Old Boys playing for the fifth year in a row.

This was now officially Naranjitos best tournament as they reached a Cup Semi-Final for the first time. Elcombe Old Boys were appearing in the Cup Semi-Final for the fourth time. In 2013 and 2015 they suffered disappointment as they lost 3-1 to Los Swallacticos (NIR) and 3-2 on penalties to the Alabama Hotpockets (Ire) after a 1-1 draw. Last year they defeated Skidmarks (Eng) 1-0 en route to glory.

The two teams had met once before when they played out a 1-1 draw in the group phase of the 2014 tournament. We expected another close game here and so it proved. There was to be just the goal to separate the two teams. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and that man was Juan Jose Garcia as his goal decided the tie.

We had to say farewell to Elcombe Old Boys. It was a valiant defence of their title. We often talk about the curse of the defending champions. The 2017 Barcelona Fives was our 93rd tournament and we have only had 6 defending champions go on to reach the Cup Final the following year. Only one of those six has then gone on to defend the title.

Naranjitos had a final to prepare for……

So, who would take their place in the Final from the second Semi-Final? The two teams set to do battle were L'Albiceleste against Danish Dynamites.

We really didn't have a clue how to call this one. Our gut instinct said everything was in favour of the French team. They had experience in our tournaments and knew how to win with two titles under their belts already. The French also had the luxury of a 7-man squad whereas the Danish had played with the same 5 men all day. Surely fatigue would come into play at some stage although the guys still looked very fit and strong.

In statistical terms it was very close as well. L'Albiceleste were unbeaten with 6 wins and 2 draws today. They had a goal difference of +14 (20 for, 6 against). Danish Dynamites also had 6 wins but 1 draw and 1 defeat although that loss came in the very first game. They also had a goal difference of +14 (19 for, 5 against).

With two closely matched teams it was perhaps no surprise that we got a really close game. There was nothing between the two teams and when the referee blew the final whistle we were still level at 0-0.

A penalty shoot-out was required to find our second Cup finalist. Danish Dynamites were on debut so we would get our first look at how accomplished they were at penalties. This was the fourth penalty shoot-out that L'Albiceleste will have been involved in during our tournaments. They had a formidable record with 3 wins out of 3 so far. Perhaps we would need a DNA test to check if they were German rather than French! (Please forgive the stereotype).

Cedric Castarede traditionally leads from the front in the shoot-outs for L'Albiceleste and he was partly responsible for them taking a lead after Round 1. The other man to thank was the man dubbed “Big Mick” around the tournament as Mickael Martin made the save for 1-0. Antoine Loscul was unable to repeat Cedric's lead as Danish Dynamites levelled it up at 1-1. In the final round of penalties the advantage swung back to the French as Thibault Gall scored and Big Mick saved. L'Albiceleste were now 4 from 4 in penalty shoot-outs.

Danish Dynamites were so very close to that eurofootballfives.com Cup Final on debut but it was not to be this year. You could certainly see that they were capable of victory and on another day they could easily be celebrating glory.