PARIS — Spain continued its long-running domination of international soccer in incredible fashion on Friday, claiming the men’s Olympic gold medal with a frantic, frenzied 5-3 extra-time victory over France in a match that included just about everything.
There was an early deficit, a spirited reversal, a blown two-goal lead, a dramatic VAR stoppage-time French penalty and, ultimately, Spanish superiority when it mattered most to leave French coach Thierry Henry, as well as a packed and passionate home crowd at the Parc des Princes, absolutely crushed.
The match was a watch-it-again-right-now classic, the highest-scoring men’s final in Olympic history. Substitute Sergio Camello ultimately decided it, running on to a beautiful pass from Adrián Bernabé in the 100th minute and delivering a feathery chip over the on-rushing goalkeeper to set off wild celebrations from the Spanish players as Henry turned on his heel in the technical area and the French players simply stared.
Their shock was understandable, as it certainly seemed that they might pull off a magical comeback to claim gold in their country’s capital. Instead, it was Spain — again — who stood atop the medal stand. Fermín López scored twice with Álex Baena also converting a dipping free kick and Camello adding a second, with France pushed all the way forward, just before full-time to end it.
The Olympic gold, which is Spain’s first since the home 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona, comes on the heels of Spanish trophies at the men’s Euros earlier this summer as well as the Women’s World Cup a year ago.
Add in titles at both the men’s and women’s U19 European Championships last month — not to mention Spanish club teams winning the men’s and women’s Champions League trophies this season — and the soccer universe is very clearly living through a near-total Spanish siege.
The French, though, clearly had designs on breaking the trend. After being booed off the field at half-time trailing by 3-1, France had hammered the Spanish goal over and over without reward before finally getting their breakthrough with 11 minutes to play in normal time.
