The opening ceremony was at 12.15 and so wondered over there in good time. Thankfully no rain and none forecast for the rest of the weekend. At 12.30 all the games started with an 18 minute roster for each. Jack's team 'Team Europa' were drawn in the same group as Hertha Berlin (well known for their 2005 academy), Hamburg SV, the Japanese side, FC Augsburg and AIK Stockholm.
The first game was against Hamburg and the boys started well taking the lead through their Lithuanian sriker. On that Team Europa only really met yesterday for the first time and with only one training session they had to navigate some serious communication issues with the team a motley crew of Australia, Lithuania, Hungary and Brits (x2). After 10 minutes they scored again this time Jack latching onto Will's shot and then again with the last kick of the game. 3-0 win and very surprised.
Next up were the very well drilled FC Augsburg who play in the German Bundesliga and who also have a renowned youth academy. I had watched their game vs Hertha Berlin and they had this little Turkish kid called Emre who was outstanding. 5 mins in we take the lead again. Jack weaving his way into the box, faked to shoot with this right, put it on his left and smack in the back of the net for 1-0. The game was then pretty even with Augsburg increasingly coming more into the match and that #8 getting more prominent.. 4 minutes to go and they get a corner with which they score at the far post. Hard to tell if it was Jack's or Greg's man but whatever. Then Augsburg go back down our end and score again. 2-1, a narrow loss.
Next the Japanese. An evenly fought game and only losing to a defensive error which was mainly borne out of poor communication. Jack almost scored again with another weaving run, a Cruyff turn and hitting with his right foot this time but straight at the goalkeeper.
The top 3 teams from both groups of 6 go through to the finals tomorrow and so lying in 4th with 3 points we still had a chance and was going to be a fight out between us, Hamburg and Berlin (our next opponents). A loss to Berlin and we were out.
The Hertha game was again close and they were getting visibly annoyed as they could not break through and then the tall Lithuanian boy runs through on the break and scoops the ball over the on rushing Hertha goalie for 1-0. A win against Stockholm and we are guaranteed to go through.
AIK Stockholm last year were really good but this year thankfully they were some way short as Team Europa won again 2-0 which meant we finished 2nd in the group and only on goal difference. Pretty awesome day.
It's a massive youth football weekend in Berlin as the Nike Cup is also taking place for the U15s. In the Olympic Stadium at the Hertha Berlin vs RB Leipzig game we saw Napoli, Olympiacos, Man City and a host of other Champions League teams who are sponsored by Nike.
I have not been to the Olympic stadium for the best part of 30 years and they've done a really nice job with it. I still think it is eerie given that it was the Hitler stadium in 1936 when Jesse Owens won the 4 golds. And surreal to think that my grandfather was in the stadium.
Massive day and will be interesting to see how they get on in the morning.
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