In the final of the Olympic men’s football, Spain outperformed France with an amazing 5-3 win after extra time, which took place at Parc des Princes. The French team, despite being on home turf for the 2024 Paris Olympics, was denied the golden prize as Spain dazzled everyone with their striking first-half performance and relentless defence in the second half. Sergio Camello played a significant role in this victory, scoring two exceptional goals during the extra time.
This final match was nothing short of dramatic, brimming with striking goals, unexpected misses, stunning saves, extraordinary comebacks, and a stunning equaliser by the French in the addition time, aided by VAR. Even though France held the ball under substantial pressure for a lengthy spell, they were unable to capitalise on it. Spain’s excellent performance was highly applauded, resonating true Spanish fervour.
For Spanish men’s football, this victory constitutes an extraordinary achievement, topping off a remarkable summer where they won three championships in four weeks, each with almost entirely different teams. Alongside this Olympic gold medal, Spain had also earlier triumphed over France in the Uefa Under-19 finals and claimed the victory in the Euro 2024 in Germany. This remarkable streak is now augmented by the women’s World Cup victory last year, marking a spectacular period of success for everyone involved in shaping and coaching Spanish football.
All these winning teams have one common thread – they all possess great skilful abilities, tactical aptness, and above all, a knack of understanding, managing, and manipulating the game. Spain’s expertise in intelligent gameplay and not just rigid tactics was a key aspect of what can be dubbed as their ‘summer of love’.
As Spain led the game 3-1 deep into the second half, the sight of six Spanish substitutes – a bunch of highly skilled youngsters – casually observing, discussing, and studying the game more than warming up was intriguing. This attitude towards the game is something that the English sport can draw lessons from.
The final took place at a packed Parc des Princes, with the French supporters maintaining a calmer ambience in contrast to their usual lively and boisterous setting. The pre-match festivities added to the overall exhilaration of the event.
The pre-match event of the Games was absurdly ridiculous, replete with two showmen screaming nonsensical choruses into booming microphones. Their performance fell on the indifferent ears of the crowd who were rather engrossed with singing Champs-Élysées, the unofficial hymn of the Games.
However, things looked up remarkably when the Actual Gala performed the number Freed from Desire live. It was an emotionally stirring moment especially for those who have seen this contemporary crowd favourite being sung mostly by inebriated fans. It felt akin to laying eyes on an original Warhol. Gala was brilliant – she pranced around and avoided overdoing the “Na Na Na Na Na Na-Na” part. Perhaps this will give her music sales a boost similar to Celine Dion’s trajectory.
Arsène Wenger took the stage next to bang the stick and formally declare the final open. Wenger looked fit and full of zeal as ever. After his presentation, the match commenced, although it was devoid of any noteworthy events for a full 11 minutes.
Suddenly, the action surged with four goals within just 17 minutes, Spain claiming three of them. France opened the scores albeit via a scruffy goal. The ball was poorly cleared by Álex Baena near the goal line allowing Enzo Millot to mount an early shot. Spain’s goalkeeper, Arnau Tenas, who also plays for Paris Saint-Germain and is 23 years old, was heavily criticised for his disappointing warding efforts. The goal was regrettable but he redeemed himself later with a fantastic one-handed save against Jean-Philippe Mateta just at the verge of half-time.
Spain equalised six minutes later thanks to a spectacular goal from Fermín López – his fifth in all this tournament, following an elaborate display of smooth and thoughtful control of the ball. Shortly after, they pulled ahead 2-1, courtesy of another brilliantly executed goal. Juan Miranda initiated a strong cross from the left for López who was perfectly positioned to tap it in.
Spain’s third victory, achieved in just under half an hour, was absolutely breathtaking. Baena managed a right-footed free-kick from the area’s edge, substantially to the left, and beautifully directed the shot into the corner, stunning Guillaume Restes who stood immobile on his line. The deceptive simplicity of the goal made it all the more attractive, somewhat akin to a well-executed free-kick goal.
In a riveting match, France, with an ostensibly superior squad, faced off against a spirited Spanish team. Despite being booed by the crowd at interval time, Spain held a well-earned 3-1 lead as they showcased their textbook Spanish style.
Thierry Henry, in an effort to invigorate his side shortly after the second half, replaced an unremarkable Alexandre Lacazette with Arnaud Kalimuendo who narrowly missed a header, this marked the closest France got to closing the goal gap in that phase. The French Olympians demonstrated increased poise in ball possession and seamless midfield passes, greatly aided by Manu Koné’s controlled influence.
With an improved grasp on the game, France started to carve out not just opportunities but potential game-changing moments. Spain’s defence remained steadfast, showcasing skill and discipline but visibly tiring after three weeks of intense, sweltering games. Goalkeeper Tenas exhibited an exceptional right-handed save.
As the game wore on, Spain’s command of the proceedings dwindled, while France proved persistent, holding onto the ball, creating opportunities and necessitating last-ditch interceptions. With just 12 minutes remaining, Michael Olise’s deflected free kick, it seemed, rightly earned France a goal, courtesy of Maghnes Akliouche. The ensuing scramble was nail-biting as the French side poured their all into an equaliser bid.
In an unexpected twist, a potentially game-saving penalty was awarded to France following a VAR check for a tussle at the back post during a corner kick. The faulting party was Miranda, who had not been at his best throughout the second half. The dramatic announcement of the penalty by referee Ramon Abatti was season finale worthy.
Mateta skillfully netted the penalty during the third minute of extra time, leading to a roaring celebration through the Parc. The French showed remarkable resilience bringing the scores level to 3-3 and rightfully extending the match into the further depths of the game.
In a game that saw Spain predominantly on the backfoot, they generated the decisive moment at 99 minutes, bringing the score to 4-3. Their goal was the result of a lengthy period of ball possession, showcasing their capacity to control the match when necessary. The scoring opportunity was initiated by an elegantly tapped reverse pass from Sergio Gomez, aimed to intersect with Camello’s cleverly angled run. France, caught in a moment of complacency, couldn’t react in time. The finish was sublime as the ball was chipped over the encroaching goalkeeper. Despite the nail-biting tension, Spain clung on to clinch their first Olympic gold in this tournament since 1992. The match concluded bizarrely when the final whistle triggered a VAR review, and Camello was declared to have scored a second goal. – Guardian