Spain beat France in classic final to win Olympic men’s football gold

It had looked as though Spain were going to run away with victory at the Parc des Princes when they recovered from conceding an early goal to lead 3-1 by half-time.

Enzo Millot put France in front, but a Fermin Lopez brace and an Alex Baena free-kick turned the final completely on its head.

However, France staged a memorable comeback with Maghnes Akliouche pulling a goal back before Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a stoppage-time penalty awarded following a VAR review.

That took the final into extra time, where Rayo Vallecano forward Camello emerged as the hero by giving Spain the lead again in the 100th minute of an absorbing game, and then running away to seal their victory at the death.

“Coaches don’t go up onto the podium. That is for the players. They did this. They fought like a family,” Spain coach Santi Denia told radio station Cadena Cope.

“Luckily we have got the gold that Spain had been looking so hard for.”

Silver medalists in Tokyo three years ago, it is the second time Spain have won Olympic men’s football gold after their victory in Barcelona in 1992 with a squad featuring Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

France had hoped for a second gold of their own, 40 years after winning in Los Angeles, but instead have to settle for silver.

“It didn’t finish the way we wanted it to but it was still really an extraordinary evening,” said Henry.

“It’s been a great run and we leave with a medal, so these will be great memories.”

The victory completes a glorious summer on the pitch for Spain’s men after their triumph at the Euros in Germany last month. They also recently won the Under-19 Euros by beating France in the final.

However, Henry’s team leave with their heads held high at the end of a classic match, the scenario of which recalled memories of the 2022 World Cup final which France lost on penalties to Argentina after a similar comeback attempt.

Lopez brace

France went ahead after just 11 minutes thanks to Millot, who collected a Baena clearance just inside the box wide on the right and tried a first-time shot that caught out goalkeeper Arnau Tenas.

However, Spain were quickly level thanks to Lopez, who finished from a Baena assist at the end of a 26-pass move.

Spain then went ahead on 25 minutes when a Juan Miranda cross was not dealt with by the French defense and Lopez converted the rebound after Guillaume Restes had saved from Abel Ruiz.

It was a sixth goal at the Olympics for Barcelona midfielder Lopez, who has had an outstanding tournament.

Penalty drama

The game had barely restarted when Miranda was fouled just outside the box and Villarreal midfielder Baena scored from the resulting free-kick.

France had to chase the game but Mateta was denied by a superb Tenas save in first-half stoppage time, and Manu Kone headed against the bar just before the hour.

Tenas, of Paris Saint-Germain, distinguished himself again by tipping a Kone shot around the post, before France scored a second goal on 79 minutes when Akliouche finished a Michael Olise free-kick.

That set the scene for what felt like inevitable last-minute penalty drama, with the referee initially giving nothing when Benat Turrientes wrestled Arnaud Kalimuendo to the ground.

He changed his mind after a VAR review, and Mateta converted the spot-kick to equalize in the 93rd minute.

There was still time for Turrientes to hit the bar before the game moved into extra time, in which Spain went back in front, this time for good.

Adrian Bernabe released Camello and he beat Restes with a clipped finish to make it 4-3, before later running clear to score his team’s fifth.