August 11 – With two extra-time goals from Sergio Camello, Spain defeated the host nation France 5-3 in a spectacular Olympic final to claim a gold medal and conclude a perfect summer after wins at Euro 2024 and the U-19 European championship.
Substitute Camello – only on standby at the start of the Olympic Games – became Spain’s hero with goals in the 100th and 121st minute of extra time to kill France’s dream of a first gold medal since the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after the hosts had cancelled out Spain’s 3-1 first-half lead with a courageous rearguard action.
A three-goal blitz inside the space of 11 first-half minutes had France rattled, but goals from Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta took the final to extra time before the team of manager Santi Denia prevailed.
With their second Olympic gold medal, Spain cemented their dominance of the international game in the first all-European Olympic final in 32 years.
Earlier this summer, Spain won the European championship and repeated the feat at U-19 level. This final was ultimately not the fairy tale of Thierry Henry’s managerial redemption, supported by a cast of brave Bleus, thriving on brotherhood and a common goal on home soil, as ultimately France fell short against the better side.
After festive pre-match proceedings and a live rendition of the ubiquitous ‘Freed from Desire’, the French took a 12th-minute lead through Enzo Millot’s attempt that Arnau Tenas punched into his net. It was a freak goal as the Spanish goalkeeper wrong-footed himself, but the hosts did not enjoy their lead for long.
France’s first shot resulted in a goal, and Spain’s first constructive attack did as well.
Alex Baene’s angled pass split the French backline and the ever-present Fermin Lopez obliged with a cool first-time finish from inside the box in the 18th minute.
The French had been badly exposed, and Spain’s second attack induced more carnage and more suspect defending. The overlapping Juan Miranda crossed the ball from the left, French goalkeeper Guillaume Restes spilled the ball from Abel Ruiz’s shot and Lopez was on hand to tap the ball home for his second.
Ostracised at the youth level by his club FC Barcelona, Lopez, with 28 minutes at Euro 2024 in Germany to his name, was steering Spain to gold with an absolute masterclass as he added to his tally of five goals and an assist.
Spain were not done yet in the first half. Every attack seemed to bring a goal. This time, Baene curled a freekick, well from the left of the centre, past the flat-footed Restes. By the 27th minute, France were down and out – or so it seemed.
It took time for Henry’s team to regain some composure and in a furious 90 seconds at the end of the first half they almost pulled another goal back, Mateta’s looping header saved by Tenas at full stretch.
In the number six role, Manu Koné was perhaps France’s best player on the pitch and he proved to be the team’s dangerman after the break. He headed against the woodwork in the 57th minute and came close again when Tenas tipped his curled attempt wide. France were exerting pressure and pinned Spain back in their half. With less than 15 minutes on the clock, they got their reward when a freekick deflected off substitute Akliouche into the net.
Spain were now in danger of being swept away by the French – Henry’s team riding the wave of partisan support at the Parc des Princes – and the hosts completed their sensational second-half comeback from the penalty spot, Mateta converting in the 93rd minute after Arnaud Kalimuendo had been brought down with a rugby tackle.
The drama was unrelenting near the Bois de Boulogne and Benat Turrientes, the man who had given away the penalty, struck the top of the crossbar before Michael Olisé slalomed his way past the Spanish defence only to find Tenas in his way.
In extra time, Spain tested France’s resilience once more when Camello’s subtle chip brought his side’s fourth goal.
It was another dramatic twist in an engrossing match and this time there was no coming back for France, who, despite a late push, ran out of steam. Instead, Camillo applied his excellent finishing skills again with another fine dink to clinch the gold. Once again, Spain reigned supreme in a year where they just can’t stop winning.
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