PARIS — Spanish soccer continues to shine this summer as the national men’s team secured a thrilling 5-3 extra-time victory over France in the Olympic final on Friday. This triumph comes shortly after Spain claimed the European Championship, solidifying their status as a top contender in global soccer.
The match took place at Parc des Princes, where Spain’s Sergio Camello made a significant impact by scoring two pivotal goals that led his team to victory. Despite being down 3-1, France managed to level the score and push the game into extra time, demonstrating resilience in front of their home crowd.
Camello, who was a late substitute in the match, expressed his joy after the game, saying, “We are the happiest children in the world.” Spain’s coach, Santi Denia, echoed those sentiments, stating that his players rightly deserved “tears of joy” after such a challenging match.
France initially took the lead with a goal from Enzo Millot, but Spain quickly responded with three goals from Fermin Lopez, who scored twice, and Alex Baena, bringing the score to 3-1 by the 28th minute. However, France fought back later in the match, with goals from Maghnes Akliouche and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who equalized via a penalty, pressing the game into extra time.
The decisive moment came when Camello scored his first goal in the 100th minute. He extended Spain’s lead shortly after with his second goal during added time. His ecstatic celebration was shared by teammates and substitutes as they rushed the field.
With this victory, Spain became the first European nation to win the Olympic gold in men’s soccer since their last triumph at the 1992 Barcelona Games. This win also marks a significant achievement, especially after Spain’s loss to Brazil in the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
In addition to their Olympic success, Spain’s under-19 team recently won the European Championship, defeating France in the final. Lopez and Baena, who were part of both successful squads, expressed their hopes for continued success. Baena remarked, “What a summer. And I hope this summer never ends so we can continue winning.”
For France, this loss in the final comes on the heels of another heartbreaking defeat after their 2022 World Cup loss to Argentina. Coach Thierry Henry commended the support from fans, remarking, “We lost tonight, but they kept singing,” highlighting the unity displayed by the French supporters despite the disappointment.
Spain’s victory signals a shift in Olympic soccer, ending the dominance of Latin American teams who had claimed gold in the last five tournaments.
In women’s soccer, Spain’s national team also made headlines but fell short in their pursuit of a medal, losing to Germany in the bronze medal match.