Thisisthefourthyearthatthisformeroffthegamehasbeencontestedonwhatourfirstdaywehavehadenjoyableandunpredictablefromthefirstmatchupuntilthefinalgame, we'veenjoyed a widerangeoffrillsandsurprises.
ThecompetitionisbeingheldinMilan, Italy, thisyearandit's proventobe a greatchoiceof a host.
Theentertainmentbeingfirstclasssofar, with a tantalizingweekendofactionahead.
Itwas a fascinatingdayinGroup A, whichhasbeenlabeledtheGroupofdeathpriortothetournamenthastakeUnitedtopthegroupof 16 pointsAtthecloseofDayoneOlympicLeonhad a fantasticstartwithsevenpointsfromthe 1st 3 matchesontopthegroupandlookstrong.
However, theystruggledinroundstwoandthree, onlypickinguptwopointsfrom a possible 18 leavingthefourthforthestruggleforqualificationfacealsomadehardworkofitonDayone, a lackofunderstandingintheTVtwomatches.
Thisledtothefinishingfifthafterthreerounds.
Group B wasdominatedbyFCBasel, whowonfivematchesandwillgointoDaytwoTopwith 11 insecondplaceUnitedpropupGroup B.
Therestofthegroupwasveryclose, withteammakersBruciaandmoviestarridersallfinishingon 11 pointseachwithalleyesonGroup C.
ItwastheturnofsomeoftheFief E clubWorldCupfavoritestoclash.
Itdidn't disappointintermsofgoalsondrama.
FanaticsstoletheshowwithTomwinningeverygameandtakingmaximumpointsonthePierceforalthoughtextstartedslowly, theyfinallyfinishedunimpressive 24 pointsfrom a possible 27 s.
Romalookgooddidenoughtotakesecondsforfavoritesteamclash, underperformedandsitrockbottomwith a mountaintoclimbafteronlynetting a totalofsixgoals.
Group D sawthelastminuteinclusionofsportingclubtoPortugaltoreplacefierceEASportswhohadwithdrawnfromthetournamentatthelastminute.
Incredibly, afterarrivinginMilanlatethenightbeforethetournamentbegan, Sportinggotoffto a flyingstartonourthirdingroupdayafterdayonestoppingGroup D offThefirstday's actioniscomplexity, followedbyour 288 DucksGaming A ManchesterCitywillbelookingforanimprovementifthey'regoingtoprogressintotheknockoutstages.
Overall, it's been a dayfullofsurprises, withmanymatcheshardtocallit.
Thenexttwodaysareasgoodasitsopeningonethatwe'reinfor a feastoffootball.