It will remain a memorable final. But unfortunately for the Blues, it will not be a golden memory. Forty years after the title won in Los Angeles, the French team lost in the final of the football tournament at the Paris Olympic Games, defeated by Spain (3-5 aet) in a match with a hair-raising scenario.
Everything had started off in the right direction, with Enzo Millot opening the scoring with a shot that was very poorly handled by goalkeeper Arnau Tenas (1-0, 11th). But the party went sour with a Spanish storm and three goals in 10 minutes, scored by Fermin Lopez, who twice found the gap in an apathetic French defense (18th, 25th), and Alex Baena, author of a magnificent free kick (1-3, 28th).
A great adventure for Henry and the Blues
Under the watchful eye of Didier Deschamps, this unfolding cruelly resembled that of the Euro semi-final between these two nations. But unlike their elders, Thierry Henry’s Olympique Blues showed enough character to come back into the game. After numerous French chances that suggested a cursed evening, the gap was reduced by a shot from Michael Olise deflected by Maghnes Akliouche (2-3, 79th). And the equalizing goal came on a penalty converted by the providential man Jean-Philippe Mateta, in added time (3-3, 90th+3).
The Blues were rewarded for their efforts (29 shots, 12 on target, 55% possession), and Thierry Henry for his coaching (Lacazette came off in the 52nd minute for Kalimuendo and Akliouche to come on, in particular). But it was Spain who proved to be the most effective during extra time, with a goal from Sergio Camello (3-4, 100th) to cause some pain, and a brace from the Rayo Vallecano player to kill the suspense (3-5, 120th+1).
Spain becomes the first European nation to win the Olympics since La Roja herself in 1992, and the first country to achieve the Euro-Olympic double since… France in 1984. For Les Bleus, it is the first Olympic medal in 40 years. It is not gold, but the result is good, and the manner too, especially after the hiccup in Tokyo three years ago. The adventure will have been beautiful.
