Spain win gold in Olympic final for the ages

France 3-5 Spain (AET) | Gold medal match
France goals: Millot (11), Akliouche (79), Mateta pen (90+3)
Spain goals: Lopez (18, 25), Baena (28), Camello (100, 120+1)

Spain beat host nation France in an extraordinary Paris final to win Men’s Olympic Football Tournament gold. Thierry Henry’s side fought back from 3-1 down to send the game to extra-time, but Spain substitute Sergio Camello struck twice to clinch a memorable triumph for La Roja.

With victory, Santi Denia’s team have emulated Spain’s 1992 heroes, who won gold on home soil at the Barcelona Games.

France got off to a dream start and hit the front on 11 minutes. Enzo Millot made a good connection with his shot, but Spain goalkeeper Arnau Tenas appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball, only succeeding in parrying it into the net.

Spain responded quickly, and their equaliser came via a predictable source. Alex Baena played in Fermin Lopez, who swept a fine first-time finish into the bottom corner.

Lopez soon had his and Spain’s second. Abel Ruiz’s close-range effort was saved by Guillaume Restes, but the Barcelona star was on the rebound in a flash to slot home his sixth goal of the tournament. Spain were rampant at this stage and they made it 3-1 when Baena curled home a magnificent free-kick.

After initially looking shellshocked, France gradually regained a foothold in the game, and they came close to reducing the deficit on the stroke of half-time. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header appeared to be looping into the net, but Tenas tipped the ball over the bar.

Les Bleus upped the ante after the break and, after Loic Bade shot off target, Manu Kone’s header rattled the crossbar. The all-action Kone then forced a stunning one-handed save from Tenas, before Millot blazed over from a tight angle.

France’s relentless pressure was eventually rewarded when Maghnes Akliouche diverted Michael Olise’s free-kick into the net. France were now within striking distance, and Mateta levelled from the spot in stoppage time after Arnaud Kalimuendo was upended in the area.

There was still time for Spain’s Benat Turrientes to hit the bar with a rasping drive before the game entered extra-time.

La Roja, however, would have the last word. Camello’s ice-cold 100th-minute finish put them ahead and he struck again in the dying moments, rifling home after latching on to a wonderful long pass from goalkeeper Tenas.

What they said….
“It is something historic. We have not been able to achieve this for many years. The players have believed, they have fought, they have struggled. We are happy to have had 40 days of this family… and that we have won the gold. They will remember it for the rest of their lives.”
Santi Denia, Spain coach

“To win you have to suffer, especially in France against France. But the team has done well, the good thing about this team is that we never give up. They scored the first goal and we were able to come back, they tied in the last minute and we scored two goals [in extra-time].”
Álex Baena, Spain midfielder

“It’s cruel, that’s football. We gave it our all throughout the competition. Once again tonight, we managed to come back and to go into extra time. We gave it everything we had, but unfortunately we weren’t able to capitalise on certain actions. Maybe we lacked efficiency, and tonight we’re disappointed. We’ve got a medal and that’s still good. It’s historic. As the coach said, it’s been a very long time since France had a medal [in men’s football] at the Olympic Games. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but disappointed to have stopped on that last step.”
Desire Doue, France midfielder