Welcome to Krakow for the 12th edition of the Krakow Trophy football tournament in Poland. The tournament was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was postponed due to Covid so we'd had to wait longer than normal to kick-off but a visit to Krakow is always worth the wait. For 2021 the tournament was to be a 6v6 event. After the popularity of our Amsteram Sixes over the last few seasons we will now have a second 6v6 tournament in our calendar and Krakow was selected.

We kicked off Group A with a Warsaw derby as Alea Iacta Est met FC Foreigntina. The teams were meeting for the third time in eurofootballfives.com and in a third different city. So far there had proved to be very little between the teams. At the 2018 Gdansk Tournament they drew 2-2 in the group phase. Then, last year at the 2020 Warsaw Tournament they drew 0-0 in the Cup Semi-Final before Alea Iacta Est went through 6-5 on penalties. We were expecting another close encounter here in Krakow.

The 1st half played out as expected with the teams unable to be separated. They swapped ends level at 0-0. The deadlock was broken in the 2nd period with Todd Cook putting FC Foreigntina 1-0 up. Victory was not meant to be though as an own goal levelled it up for Alea Iacta Est. It was a hat-trick of draws for these two teams which represented a solid start to their respective campaigns.

The last team to get their campaign underway was Only Kruls & Horses as they took on Alea Iacta Est.

Only Kruls & Horses most recent appearance in our tournaments was at the 2019 Barcelona Fives with 2 squads. Ospina Coladas did well to finish 3rd in a 6 team group. Only previous title winners FC Miracle (Hun) and Club Esportiu Llefia (Spa) finished above them. It meant Plate qualification and Quarter Final success with victory on pens after a 2-2 draw with VNV of the Netherlands. They then met Latvia's FK Aliance in the Semis and would go to pens again after a 1-1 draw but this time the spot kicks did not go their way. Agger Diouf Diouf Diouf fared even better with 5 wins out of 5 in Group D scoring 16 goals and conceding just 2. It was a first Cup qualification where they drew the 2012 champions, Black Sheep. It was the Spanish side who progressed, 3-0.

They had a tough start against Alea Iact Est who were Cup runners-up at the 2020 Warsaw Tournament. Only Kruls & Horses continued their Barcelona form though as they took a 1-0 lead into the break here in Krakow. Ian Rosie was the man with the goal. Alea Iacta Est had a record of 10 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats in the group phase of our tournaments and would have to play well to avoid a 4th group game defeat in 4 years and their first of today. The Only Kruls & Horses defence held firm though as they ran out 1-0 winners. An excellent 3 points.

FC Foreigntina were next in action on Pitch A as they entertained Lanky Londoners.

FC Foreigntina made their debut in our events at the 2018 Gdansk Tournament. They had a steady start with a 2-2 draw versus Alea Iacta Est before a first victory with a 3-2 win over Hotpockets (Ire). Another win quickly followed – also 3-2 – versus Freshers FC. They were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Dad before finishing o with another 3-2 win versus Spider Mans & Eagle. They were joint top of the group on 11 points with Alea Iacta Est but won the group on goal difference. In the knockout phase they drew Northern Town and went out 2-1 in the Cup Quarter-Finals to the team who would go on to win the title.

At the 2020 Warsaw Tournament they got off to a flyer with a 3-1 win against Spider Mans & Eagles (finalists here in Krakow in 2016). They were brought down to earth with a 2-0 defeat to FC Maroon before finishing on a high. They saw off Red Cow Belgrade (2-1) and Dragon Balls (3-0) to win Group B. In the Cup Semi-Final they met compatriots Alea Iacta Est. In normal time the teams could not be separated, eventually Alea Iacta Est won the day 6-5 on pens.

Today they had begun with a 1-1 draw against Alea Iacta Est but now faced a stern test in Lanky Londoners. The English team had got off to a flyer with a 7-1 win vs Luffs. It was the men from Warsaw who struck first though as Mikhail Mohammed Ali made it 1-0. Lanky Londoners were level by half-time though thanks to Theo Stubbs.

In the 2nd half Lanky Londoners edged ahead courtesy of Aaron Paxton's second goal in as many games. They then had a two goal cushion as Theo Stubbs made it 3-1. Stubbs then completed his second successive hat-trick as the English team completed a fine 4-1 win. They were a team in form!

The game that took us to the halfway stage of Group A was to be Luffs versus Only Kruls & Horses.

Luffs were making their debut in our tournaments and they had experienced a baptism of fire in their opening fixture. It was a chastening 7-1 loss to Lanky Londoners. The bright spot was a goal from Matthew Gill who had the honour of scoring their first goal in Europe. Could they bounce back in their second game?

It would not be easy as Only Kruls & Horses had kicked off with a 1-0 win in what was looking to be a strong Group A. In these games the first goal can often be pivotal and it went to Christopher John of Only Kruls & Horses. John was on target again in the opening period to double his tally and his team's lead. The teams changed ends with Only Kruls leading 2-0.

It was game on at the start of the 2nd half as Matthew Gill scored for the second game running to reduce arrears to 2-1. Adam Watson restored the two goal advantage for Only Kruls before Matt Berka put daylight between the two teams at 4-1. Christopher John completed his personal hat-trick before Ian Rosie put the icing on a 6-1 cake.

The result meant Only Kruls & Horses shared top spot at the halfway stage.