Sammy A's blog: Tournament day 2

Well today was tough. Probably a mixture of tired, into bed late and quality opposition.

We had the top 5 teams to play from yesterday: Aarhus, Sparta Prag, RB Leipzig, the J-league team and FC Augsburg.

In fairness the boys never really got going. Game 1 they lost to the Danish side Aarhus 1-0. They were decent and played smartly with their centre forward often darting from the front and taking possession in midfield as opposed to how every other team built their play with the goal keeper invariably passing to one of the full backs. This was a trait throughout all the games and teams with full backs not great in possession struggled as they were immediately pressed by the opposing front three.

With the morning games coming thick and fast next up was the technically gifted Japenese side. This is perhaps where Team Europa played at its best but mostly in part to the strong contributions of the Eastern Europeans. Augsburg then quite easily turned us over showing their class (2-0) before we beat Leipzig by the same score. The last game of the comp was against Sparta and having watched them closely a number of times over the weekend, I knew it would be tough. Even our little Latvian midfield maestro struggled against possibly the best player in the tournament, the Sparta #10 and captain. He basically ticked all boxes.

When each of the three goals went in their partisan crowd celebrated as if they had won the Champions Legaue.

Jack was not at the races today but can feel pretty good after yesterday scoring a couple and going close on one other occasion. It just wasn't his day. Even his direct free-kick late in the game (usually his speciality) was poor. Like Greg, Will and Harry they have to learn from the exeperince and if I am being honest they were below par today and were carried by their new found Eastern European friends.

At this level the main difference is the zero time you get on the ball as well as how quick the game is - it was noticeable to me how much quicker some of the opposition were.

Still, Saturday was positive and whilst 99% of the boys on show today in the tournament will not get anywhere close to making it pro there is always one to break through from an age group like this. Patrick Kluivert and Timo Werner both played at the the annual Mini Europa which Jack and Greg played in
last year. It's no surprise to me that Marvin (Andreas' son) has a chance to make it because of his athletic talent. Apparently back in the day he cleaned up at all the Berlin track meets from 200ms all the way up to 1,000ms. Athletic ability is everything and particularly so today.

Final standings: