Paris 2024 Olympics football final served up a match to remember as Spain defeated hosts France 5-3 in a match that went all the way to extra time. It was quite remarkably the country's third tournament win in just four weeks, following the senior men team's dominant victory at the European Championships last month and the UEFA Under-19 triumph two weeks after.
A first goal by France soon turned into a 3-1 Spanish lead as the first half drew to a close. However, France scored two second half goals to stretch the game to extra time, before a double from the impressive Sergio Camello during extra time effectively put the game to bed. It was an exhilarating, goal laden display of football, the type that perfectly explains why many love this sport.
Road to the Final
Olympics football events, despite historically fielding mostly U-23 players and only three overaged players, has always produced entertaining matches. This year was no different. Hosts France, coached by the legendary Thierry Henry, were looking to pick up a home gold medal win as they powered past The United States, Guinea, and New Zealand in the group stages.
In the knockout stages, Henry's young guns captained by Alexander Lacazette, faced Argentina in a hard fought quarterfinal match that was decided in the fifth minute when Crystal Palace's front man Jean-Philippe Mateta glanced home a Micheal Olise corner for his second goal of the tournament. Both Mateta and Olise were on the score sheet a few days later as they came from behind to see off a spirited Egypt team in extra time of the semifinal.
Spain, on the other hand, won their tournament opener in a not-so-convincing fashion as an unfancied Uzbekistan side, making their first ever appearance at the Olympics, made them labor to a 2-1 win. They picked up another win, this time convincingly against Dominican Republic, before falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Egypt in their third group game.
The Spanish team made light work of Japan in the quarter final and a few days later needed a late, late goal to break down a resolute Moroccan team, winning 2-1 to set up a mouth-watering Spain vs France Olympics final.
Analyzing The Game: Detailing How It All Went Down
The match, which was played in a packed Parc De Princes was largely uneventful for 11 minutes before 4 goals in 17 minutes turned the game on its head. France scored first, Enzo Millot capitalizing on an error from Álex Baena to send the home crowd into a frenzy. It didn't take long for Spain to pull one back, as Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez side footed the ball into the corner for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Fermin doubled his and Spain’s tally just a few minutes later, positioning himself to tap in Juan Miranda's cross from the left wing. In the 28th minute, Spain won a foul on the edge of the opponent's box. Baena stepped up and floated a delightful free kick into the net, leaving the French keeper rooted to the spot, and the home crowd stunned.
The start of the second half saw Henry replace skipper Alexander Lacazette with Arnaud Kalimuendo, whose first impact was to hit the bar in the 58th minute. Manu Koné became more and more influential as the French team, buoyed on by home support, grew into the game. It had been an intensive few weeks and the Spanish team looked tired. The signs of a comeback were starting to show. Spanish goalkeeper Tenas had to dive low to his left to save a shot that was destined for the net.
With 12 minutes left to play, France got their adrenaline boost as Olise’s free kick was deflected into the Spanish net by Miranda. And just as it seemed like Spain would run away with the lead, VAR awarded a penalty to France in the 93rd minute. Mateta stepped up and buried the spot kick to make it 3-3. The Parc De Princes crowd was delirious.
But it was all for nothing as Cabello dinked a first time finish over the onrushing goalkeeper after running onto a delightful pass from Sergio Gomez. France huffed and puffed but again it was Cabello who had the next word as he scored from a Spanish counter attack at the tail end of the second extra time. And that was it — Spain wins Olympics football gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics football final event.
For France, it was a soul-sapping defeat in front of their home crowd, and at the end of a hard fought tournament. But for Spain, it was the first gold medal in men’s Olympics football in 32 years, and the completion of an incredible chain of football tournament wins. No doubt, this game will go down in history as one of those incredible Olympics events we'll remember forever.