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Paris 2024: Tenas, Spain edge France in eight-goal thriller

Spain roared back in extra time to secure a gold medal at Paris 2024, leaving Thierry Henry's side disappointed despite their having come back from two goals down before eventually losing, 5-3 in extra time.
E. DEVIN
Published on 08/09/2024 at 21:00
2-minute read
Spain and PSG goalkeeper Arnau Tenas

A strong start...

France, playing before a raucous home crowd at the Parc des Princes, started the brighter, dominating possession in the early going, and scoring first through former AS Monaco midfielder Enzo Millot, who beat Arnau Tenas from a tight angle. Ahead on the scoreboard and brimming with confidence in front of their supporters, the match looked to be France's to lose.

...but spain respond

Spain were hardly ready to take conceding the opener lying down, however, and responded with a trio of clinical strikes in just ten minutes. Fermin Lopez struck first, slotting the ball past Guillaume Restes from the edge of the area. He would soon have a double, giving his side the lead. After a fine ball in from the left, Restes kept his initial effort out, but he pounced cleverly to make it 2-1, just three minutes before Alex Baena doubled the lead with a free kick.

Late drama, then heartbreak

Spain looked to be well on their way to victory, even as Tenas was forced into a flying save just before the break, but France would finally have their reward with Michael Olise netting with a clever backheel. In added time, Spain Arnaud Kalimuendo was brought down in the box, and the official pointed to the spot. Jean-Philippe Mateta duly converted to make it three-all and the match was headed to extra time. 

In the final 30 minutes, Spain's fresh legs made the difference as substitute Sergio Camello struck twice to seal the final margin, denying France a second title in the competition's history, forty years after their first. 

Teams:

France: Restes; Sildillia (Cherki 110'), Badé, Lukeba, Truffert (Locko 90'); Koné (Magassa 105'); Millot (Doué 77'), Chotard (Akliouche 52'); Olise; Lacazette (Kalimuendo 52'), Mateta

Spain: Tenas; Pubill (Sanchez 73'), Garcia, Cubarsi, Miranda (Gutierrez 98'); Barrios, Baena (Turrientes 83'); Oroz (Pacheco 88'), Lopez (Bernabe 73'), Gomez; Ruiz (Camello 83')

Goals: 

France: Millot 12', Olise 79', Mateta 90 + 3'

Spain: Lopez 18', 25', Baena 28', Camello 100', 120 + 1'

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Season preview #6: LOSC Lille

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