Spain secures Olympic gold in thrilling 5-3 extra-time victory over France
PARIS: Spain clinched the gold medal in the Olympic men’s football tournament after a dramatic 5-3 victory over hosts France in an exhilarating final at Parc des Princes on Friday. Substitute Sergio Camello was the hero for La Roja, scoring twice in extra time to seal the win and deliver Spain their first Olympic title since 1992.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with the teams deadlocked at 3-3 after 90 minutes. France, driven by the home crowd, mounted an impressive comeback after falling 3-1 behind. Maghnes Akliouche’s 79th-minute strike and a stoppage-time penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta, awarded after a VAR review, forced the game into extra time.
Spain had earlier surged ahead in the first half, overturning an early 12th-minute goal by France’s Enzo Millot. Fermin Lopez’s quickfire double and a stunning free-kick from Alex Baena put Spain on the brink of victory before France’s late resurgence.
In extra time, Camello made the difference, scoring his first goal 10 minutes into the period and adding a second in the dying moments to secure Spain’s historic win. The victory marks Spain’s first Olympic football gold in over three decades, a triumph that echoes their success on home soil in 1992.
