As the 2022 Barcelona Fives Cup Quarter-Finals were about to get underway we were down to the elite 8 teams in the tournament. We had four nationalities in with a chance of glory –England, France, Poland and Spain were all represented and gunning for tournament success.

We started on Campo B with Sharks versus FC Yol. Sharks had won Group A with 4 wins and 1 draw from their 5 games. They had played 11 games to date at the Barcelona Fives and only lost once – the 2021 Cup Final. They were serious challengers for this year's title too.

In a strange twist of fate, due to the pre-determined draw of Group A Winners v Best 3rd placed team, these two teams had met in the group phase. Not just in the group phase but in fact it was the last game each of these teams played. The game had finished 0-0 as FC Yol were the only team to take points off Sharks. That would give them some confidence going into this quarter-final.

At the break we were locked together at 0-0 for the third successive half between these two and it looked odds on we would be going to penalties but the second half produced goals. FC Yol broke the deadlock and soon after they doubled their lead – Henry Rodrigues and Joe Holmes the men on target.

Sharks were heading out but were given hope when they won a last minute penalty. Savvas Effhydridar scored it but hopes of a recovery were dashed as it proved to be the last kick of the game. Full time, 2-1 and a great victory for FC Yol.

Up next on Pitch A was Norfolk N Chance versus West London which promised to be an intriguing game. Both teams were on debut not only in Barcelona Fives competition but also eurofootballfives.com competition. Both teams had taken to European football like the proverbial duck to water. This was probably to be the most hotly contested quarter-final as we had the Group C winners (Norfolk N Chance) up against the Group B runners-up (W London).

W London came into the game on the back of a barnstorming climax to Group B with a last minute winner in a feisty contest securing their status in the Cup competition. They were a team in determined fashion today and it was they who made the breakthrough in the second half with Mohammed Altobi firing home from the penalty spot.

If this game was going to go to a penalty shoot-out then both teams were getting the practice in during normal time as W London were probably not even ahead for a minute before Norfolk N Chance were awarded a penalty at the other end. Joe Sames converted it for 1-1.

A shoot-out would not be required though and ultimately there would be just the one further goal to settle matters. The game was calling out for a hero and the man to answer that call was Tom Connell. His second goal of the tournament and most crucial sent his team into the Semi-Finals and sent W London home. Disappointment for W London but they showed their quality and on another day it could have been them marching on.

The final Quarter-Final was EMC French Nuts versus L'Albiceleste. It meant we were guaranteed one French team in the Cup Semi-Finals.

In theory this should be the closest of all the Quarter-Finals as it was the two second placed teams in the 6-team groups. That's exactly how it proved to be as the two teams fought out a 0-0 draw. We will fast forward straight to the shoot-out.

L'Albiceleste made an interesting decision before the shoot-out as Fateh Bekhouche who had been in goal for much of the tournament and played very well made way for Mickael Martin. It was like Louis Van Gaal replacing Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul at the 2014 World Cup against Costa Rica.

First up would be Lionel Le Dinh of L'Albiceleste but he would see his penalty sensationally saved by Thomas Farin. Alexis Bellec had the chance to put EMC French Nuts ahead and he duly obliged. Cedric Castarede – already with successful penalties in this tournament – equalized for 1-1. Bruno Abjean restored the lead for EMC French Nuts before Thibault Kerouredan stepped forward to keep his team in it at 2-2.

It meant Richard Leibovici had the chance to win it for EMC French Nuts but Mickael Martin justified his selection in goal for the shoot-out by making the save. We now entered sudden death. The 2017 champions looked like they were heading out but now had a lifeline. Antoine Loscul was the next man up but Thomas Farin was able to make another fine save. EMC French Nuts had a second chance to go through to the Semi-Final and this time Clement Yver took it as he slotted home past Martin.

L'Albiceleste had a remarkable record here at the Barcelona Fives. They had played 16 games and were unbeaten in all of them during normal time. Despite that, they were out of the tournament due to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.