Le Tournoi de Mundial

31.07.2015

Looking through a black goal net across an indoor five-a-side pitch, blurred spectators beyond the blue boards

Last week we were pitted against the North’s finest football-kicking clothing obsessives in Mundial magazine's Le Tournoi de Mundial five-a-side football tournament. How did we do? Here’s some 100% non-biased match analysis from the humble mouth of OP player-manager Liam Daly…

“The first game we played was against the Trickett Terriers. It was a bit of a shit game really — they beat us 2-1. My mate Foley who was in net… he’s not a keeper and the goal they scored was an absolute pot-shot from their area. So yeah, we didn’t deserve to lose.

Our second game was against Casual Connoisseur. We beat them 4-1. I scored an absolute Zlatan Ibrahimovic free-kick laid-off from Ebo — an absolute pearler into the bottom corner. I think they captured it on camera.

The goal they scored was, again, a pot-shot. We didn’t have a proper keeper so every goal we conceded wasn’t our fault. Josh and Ebo scored good goals in that game.

Our third game was against Size? I went in net for that one. David De Gea sort of skills with a triple-save that got me Man of the Match — that’s true as well. Josh, Ebo and Stu all scored really good goals in that game. Stu especially, he nutmegged someone, took it past them and then put it through the keepers legs too — a double nutmeg. Brilliant team performance meaning we won the group.

The semi-final was against Scotts. They were a good side… but they did play over head height, and in five-a-side you shouldn’t be able to play over head height. They beat us 4-2… or 3-1. I can’t remember.

Then we played Size? in the playoffs. We were a man down as Josh had to go and everyone was tired, so they beat us 2-0. But, we'd beaten them when it mattered. We beat them in the group stage 5-1 and we were happy with that. Fourth place out of eight isn’t bad considering we struggled to get the numbers together and Curtis had to miss it because of his graduation.

In my opinion Josh or Ebo were our top players, but I will say that I was supposed to get Player of the Tournament until I was sent off in the last game. It wasn’t a bad tackle, but he dived and I got sent off.

I think if we’d have had one more player we would have done a lot better. But yeah, it was well organised, Le Coq Sportif did a good job and Mundial did a good job.”

Two players in green Le Tournoi de Mundial shirts with red, white and blue cuffs, leaning on the netting to watch Close-up of players' legs in green socks and white Adidas boots on artificial turf, sunlight falling across the pitch Someone watching through the net in a navy Le Tournoi de Mundial shirt printed with Le Coq Sportif and Oi Polloi logos Flags of England, Portugal, Germany, Brazil, France and Spain hung on the netting above a breeze-block wall, players behind A player in a green Le Tournoi de Mundial shirt and blue boots lining up a kick at a Mitre ball on the indoor pitch Players' legs around a green and white ball on the pitch, one in green socks and white boots, another in a knee support A goalkeeper in a green shirt, white shorts and yellow gloves holding the ball in front of a blue-framed goal A player in profile in a green Le Coq Sportif shirt with a red, white and blue collar, the pitch blurred behind A player in an orange bib striking the ball towards a defender and keeper in green, a Le Tournoi de Mundial banner behind A player in a green Manufrance shirt and white shorts on the ball, facing an opponent in an orange bib A player in a green Le Tournoi de Mundial shirt grinning and pointing at someone in an orange bib Two players in orange bibs facing a player in a green Manufrance shirt on the ball, the keeper in a blue goal behind A player in an orange bib over a green shirt, arms out and palms up, with a Le Tournoi de Mundial banner behind Three onlookers leaning on the wall behind the netting in a green shirt, a pale blue shirt and a striped top Three people with arms folded in front of a logo backdrop for Reclaim, Kidscan and Search, two in stripes, one in blue A player in a green shirt, white shorts and a headband sat on a kerb outside, giving a peace sign, a coach behind A smiling player with tousled brown hair in a green shirt with a red, white and blue trimmed collar Seen from behind, a player in a green Le Coq Sportif shirt with an Oi Polloi logo watching the game over a goal frame A player in a white Le Tournoi de Mundial shirt and navy shorts sat on the turf stretching to touch their boot Players in green shirts and socks sat along the breeze-block pitch wall, a Le Tournoi de Mundial banner on the netting A team in white Loire shirts holding up a green Le Tournoi de Mundial banner, arms round each other, one fist raised A player in a green Le Tournoi de Mundial shirt with arms spread and phone in hand, facing a crowd as a trophy is raised Players in green Le Coq Sportif shirts printed MF Manufrance, standing together in white shorts

Photos by Mike Sallabank.

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