Spain continued their dominance in international football by edging past France, who made a spirited comeback from 3-1 down to force extra time, ultimately winning Olympic gold in men’s football at Paris 2024.
The hosts initially took the lead, but in a thrilling match, they quickly fell behind by two goals before halftime. However, France mounted a remarkable second-half rally and fought back to level the score. Yet, it was Spain’s substitute Sergio Camello who proved decisive, scoring twice in the extra period to secure the victory.
Both of Camello’s goals led to jubilant celebrations among the Spanish players, marking their first Olympic gold since 1992. This victory came just over a month after Spain triumphed in the men’s European Championship, defeating England in the final. The Spanish men’s under-19 team also won the European title last month, while the women’s team lifted the World Cup last year.
In contrast, the mood among the French players shifted from disappointment to a more celebratory tone as they received their silver medals. “It wasn’t easy to build this team up, but I’m proud of the work we did,” said coach Thierry Henry.
Great Britain remains fifth in the Paris 2024 medal table, with both nations having won 14 gold medals, but Team GB holds a slight edge overall with 57 medals compared to France’s total.
Match Summary
Henry, a national hero from his playing days, was seeking to lead France to their first Olympic gold in 40 years. With a packed crowd of 48,000 at the Parc des Princes, France got off to a promising start when Enzo Millot’s shot slipped through the weak hands of Spanish keeper Arnau Tenas.
However, Spain’s potent attack quickly rallied, leveling the score within seven minutes. Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez finished an incisive move with a scuffed but effective shot into the corner. Following that, Fermin struck again, capitalizing on a moment of hesitation from the French defense, making it 2-1.
When Alex Baena expertly curled in a free-kick for Spain’s third goal, it seemed the match was slipping away from France. Nonetheless, Henry’s team showed resilience, striving to regain their momentum in the second half.
France reduced the deficit when Maghnes Akliouche converted Michael Olise’s inswinging free-kick, injecting hope back into the stadium. A dramatic finale unfolded when a melee in the box prompted referee Ramon Abatti to review footage pitchside, leading to a penalty call against Spain’s Benat Turrientes for holding French substitute Arnaud Kalimuendo.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta calmly converted the penalty in stoppage time, eliciting wild celebrations among the home fans as they prepared for extra time.
Despite the late equalizer, Spain quickly regained composure, demonstrating their adept passing skills. Camello emerged as the hero, striking twice in extra time to turn the tide back in Spain’s favor.
Henry reflected on the match, saying, “There were a few minutes during the first half in which we disappeared. And we paid a high price for that.”
Spain’s victory solidifies their status as a football powerhouse and adds another gold to their illustrious history at the Olympics.
Credit: BBC Sport
