Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Saturday | 5 October 2024 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● Sailor dies after oil tanker catches fire in Ctg      ● Ex-president Badruddoza Chowdhury passes away      ● Killing during students' movement: 9 bodies to be exhumed in Sylhet      ● Malaysian prime minister leaves Dhaka for home      ● CA seeks Malaysian support for Bangladesh to be ASEAN dialogue partner      ● Malaysian PM assures of attention to 18,000 Bangladesh workers       ● Bid to kill Khaleda Zia: Sheikh Hasina among 113 sued      

Spain beat France in classic final to win Olympic men's football gold

Published : Sunday, 11 August, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 210
PARIS, AUG 10: Substitute Sergio Camello struck twice in extra time to settle a remarkable Olympic men's football final on Friday as Spain beat France 5-3 to take gold after Thierry Henry's hosts had earlier staged a dramatic comeback.

It had looked as though Spain were going to run away with victory at the Parc des Princes when they recovered from conceding an early goal to lead 3-1 by half-time.

Enzo Millot put France in front, but a Fermin Lopez brace and an Alex Baena free-kick turned the final completely on its head.

However, France staged a memorable comeback with Maghnes Akliouche pulling a goal back before Jean-Philippe Mateta converted a stoppage-time penalty awarded following a VAR review.

That took the final into extra time, where Rayo Vallecano forward Camello emerged as the hero by giving Spain the lead again in the 100th minute of an absorbing game, and then running away to seal their victory at the death.

"Coaches don't go up onto the podium. That is for the players. They did this. They fought like a family," Spain coach Santi Denia told radio station Cadena Cope.

"Luckily we have got the gold that Spain had been looking so hard for."

Silver medallists in Tokyo three years ago, it is the second time Spain have won Olympic men's football gold after their victory in Barcelona in 1992 with a squad featuring Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.

France had hoped for a second gold of their own, 40 years after winning in Los Angeles, but instead have to settle for silver.

"It didn't finish the way we wanted it to but it was still really an extraordinary evening," said Henry. "It's been a great run and we leave with a medal, so these will be great memories."

The victory completes a glorious summer on the pitch for Spain's men after their triumph at the Euros in Germany last month. They also recently won the Under-19 Euros by beating France in the final.

However, Henry's team leave with their heads held high at the end of a classic match, the scenario of which recalled memories of the 2022 World Cup final which France lost on penalties to Argentina after a similar comeback attempt.

France went ahead after just 11 minutes thanks to Millot, who collected a Baena clearance just inside the box wide on the right and tried a first-time shot that caught out goalkeeper Arnau Tenas. However, Spain were quickly level thanks to Lopez, who finished from a Baena assist at the end of a 26-pass move.

Spain then went ahead on 25 minutes when a Juan Miranda cross was not dealt with by the French defence and Lopez converted the rebound after Guillaume Restes had saved from Abel Ruiz. It was a sixth goal at the Olympics for Barcelona midfielder Lopez, who has had an outstanding tournament.

The game had barely restarted when Miranda was fouled just outside the box and Villarreal midfielder Baena scored from the resulting free-kick.    —AFP



LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Swiatek splits with coach Wiktorowski
Finally beaten Madrid aiming for Villarreal rebound in La Liga
Top EU court finds against FIFA in key transfer market ruling
Rising Kenya athletics star Anyango fails doping test
FIFA defers decision on call to suspend Israel
Top seed Sabalenka stunned by Muchova in Beijing last eight
Ten Hag faces make-or-break trip to Aston Villa
Sinner not 'comfortable' as doping case clouds Shanghai campaign
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: info©dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝