KEIR RADNEDGE in PARIS: The first all-European Olympic men’s gold medal football match in 32 years matched the dramatic heights raised elsewhere across the Games as France took the lead against Spain, went 3-1 down, fought back for extra time – and all to lose 5-3.

Coach Thierry Henry, denied overage superstars who had better things to do with their time, had been forced to pull together a scratch team. They had thrilled and exasperated their fans in equal measure en route to the Parc des Princes where they made up in energy and enthusiasm what they lacked in Spanish savvy.

The outcome was a riveting contest from which each team deserved their medal of whichever colour.

The last all-European medal duel had been back in 1992 when Spain beat Poland in Barcelona. The hosts, then as now, had come home for the first time to play for the gold medal in the ‘real’ host city. This was a worthy French march on their own capital.

Paris has not been a lucky stage for France in men’s Olympic football. In 1900 they were runners-up to Great Britain – albeit only three teams entered – and 100 years ago they crashed 5-1 to Uruguay in the quarter-finals. Rewriting their Paris Games history was within reach but ultimately proved beyond them.

Both teams had tormented their fans by making hard work of the last, semi-final hurdle on the way to the Parc des Princes. Spain had conceded the opening goal before recovering to beat ultinate bronze medallists Morocco then France had been taken to extra time before overcoming Egypt.

Both countries kicked off having won Olympic gold only once each: Spain, as stated in 1992, and France in Los Angeles in 1984. A team managed by Henri Michel had beaten Brazil 2-0 a fortnight after the seniors had won the European Championship.

Some 14 members of the French squad in Los Angeles were in the Parc hoping to bring their successors good luck. Instead they had to watch Spain, their elders Euro winners last month against England, match Les Bleus’ double.

First strike

France began with energy and vitalty, keeping Spain penned in their half for most of the opening 12 minutes before taking the lead through midfielder Enzo Millot. Alex Baena gave away the ball in his own penalty box and Millot’s shot skimmed through the hands of surprised keeper Arnau Tenas.

The lead lasted little more than a minute before Baena made amends by piercing the French defence with an angled pass which Fermin Lopez slid inside keeper Guillaume Restes’s right-hand post.

No stopping the action. Spain went ahead in the 25th minute. Fermin struck his sixth goal of the tournament after a left-wing raid by fullback Miranda. Abel Ruiz’s close-range shot was only parried by Restes and the Barcelona midfielder Fermin pounced.

Three more minutes and Spain had extended their lead. Central defender Loic Bade tripped Miranda and Baena curled his free kick around the wall and low past Restes’s right hand.

Fine save

France sought, enthusiastically but in vain, to make the most of the seven minutes of first-half stoppage time. Jean-Philippe Mateta, one of their three over-age players, was perfectly placed on the corner of the goal area but keeper Temas reacted superbly to tip his effort aside for a corner.

France repeated the trick in dramatic style late in a second half after Manu Kone and Miranda had hit the posts at each end.

Just over 10 minutes remained, with Spain counting down the minutes to the medal ceremony when substitute Maghnes Akliouche acrobatically converted a Michael Olise free kick. A frantic finale saw Mateta convert a penalty equaliser three minutes into stoppage time after VAR judged Miranda to have fouled Arnau Kalamiendo.

At this point all the smart money would have been on the French with their fans roaring them on but the fates – and Spain – had one more trick to play.

Coach Santi Denia had brought on Rayo Vallecano’s Sergio Camello in place of centre forward Abel Ruiz in the closing minutes of normal time. Camello converted an assist from Sergio Gomez to put Spain back ahead in the 10th minute of stoppage time and then, as the French threw caution and everything else to the wind, struck once more.

A scoreline of 5-3 will look decisive in the Olympic history books but will not tell the true tale.

The teams:

France: Restes – Sildillia (Cherki 111), Bade, Lukeba, Truffert (Loko 90) – Millot (Doué 78), Kone (Magassa 105), Chotard (Akliouche 52) – Olise, Lacazette (Kalimuendo 52), Mateta.

Spain: Tenas – Pubill (Juanlu Sánchez 73), Garcia, Cubarsi, Miranda (Miguel Gutiérrez 98) – Barrios, Baena (Beñat Turrientes 83) – Oroz (Pacheco 88), Fermin Lopez (Adrián Bernabé 73), Sergio Gomes – Abel Ruiz (Camello 83′).

Ref: Bra Abatti (Brz).

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