PARIS — The summer of Spain continues. At the expense of France’s heart.
Less than a month after its senior team won the European championship, and 10 days after its Under-19 team did the same, Spain claimed the men’s Olympic gold medal Friday night in an epic final with France. With a raucous crowd on urging Les Bleus, France erased a two-goal deficit in the final 14 minutes of regulation, including the tying game in the last minutes of stoppage time, only to have Sergio Camello score twice in overtime to secure Spain’s 5-3 win.
It was the highest-scoring final ever, in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. It also gave Spain its second Olympic title, following its gold in 1992 when Barcelona hosted the Summer Games.
“We’re disappointed. We wanted gold,” France captain Alexandre Lacazette said. “But we’ve managed to get this medal for the French. We saw the atmosphere in the stadiums. I think it’s a bit early to realize that, but I hope by starting tomorrow, players will realize what we’ve achieved.”
That this final will be remembered as one of the best ever played, certainly in the Olympic tournament, was of little consolation in the moment. Same for the affection of the French fans, who waved flags and serenaded the players with “La Marseillaise” as they received their medals.
With Thierry Henry as their coach, Les Bleus had hoped to re-create the magic of the 1998 World Cup. France was both host and champion of that tournament, sparking euphoria throughout the entire country.
And for about six minutes, it looked as if this was going to be France’s day.
In the 12th minute, Enzo Millot took a shot that Spain goalkeeper Arnau Tenas tried to bat away. But instead of clearing the ball, it deflected back into the goal. Parc des Princes erupted, and a chorus of “Allez Les Bleus! Allez Les Bleus” echoed throughout the stadium.
But as so many countries have learned recently, Spain is simply too strong. In a 10-minute span, Spain tied the game, took the lead and scored an insurance goal. Fermin Lopez had a brace, and Alex Baena scored on a David Beckham-esque free kick.
“There were a few minutes during the first half in which we disappeared. And we paid a high price for that,” Henry said.
At halftime, Henry told his players that French fans had supported not only their team but also every French athlete during these Games. They filled stadiums, cheering and singing, and their energy was infectious. Draw on that, Henry told his players. They haven’t given up on you, so you can’t give up on yourselves.
With its two-goal lead, Spain was content to play defense in the second half. But France pressed. And pressed. And pressed some more. There was a growing feeling that something was about to break and, finally, it did.
In the 79th minute, Baena was whistled for a yellow card for a foul just outside the box. Michael Olise whipped the ensuing free kick toward the goal and Maghnes Akliouche was credited with touching it into the net. Replays showed he might not have actually touched it, but the details are irrelevant.
France was back in the game and the enthusiastic crowd roared even louder.
Then, during a corner kick in the 89th minute, Juan Miranda wrapped both arms around Arnaud Kalimuendo. French players howled in protest and a chorus of boos rained from the stands. Those jeers gave way to a deafening cheer when the referee signaled the play was being reviewed.
Within seconds, Miranda was given a yellow card and France was awarded a penalty. Jean-Philippe Mateta converted it in the 93rd minute.
“One super important thing for me, the team fought on the pitch,” Henry said. “At first I didn’t think this was a proper match, but it was. There was very little between us. You can’t say we didn’t fight.”
In the first half of overtime, France banged one shot off the crossbar and sent another into the hands of Spain’s goalkeeper. Surely, a goal was coming.
It was. Not, however, for Les Bleus.
In the 100th minute, France goalkeeper Guillaume Restes came off his line to try and stop a charging Camello. Without breaking stride, Camello chipped the ball over Restes and into the net. He added another just before the final whistle, latching onto a ball that Tenas had whipped halfway down the field and poking the ball past Restes.
When the final whistle blew shortly after, Spain’s players raced around the field in jubilation. France’s players looked bereft, their shoulders slumping and their heads dropping.
“It’s one of the biggest matches, emotionally speaking. This was my last match with this blue shirt,” said Lacazette, one of the overage players in what is a youth tournament for the men.
But Henry said he hopes his players’ disappointment will fade. They might not have won the gold medal, but they and all the other Olympians have won the hearts of the French people these last two weeks.
In a country that has been fractured by politics in recent months, that alone is a victory.
“France is beautiful. When we’re all together and when we unite, it’s a wonderful sight,” Henry said. “We lost tonight but they kept singing.’
Their medals might be silver. To the French people, Les Bleus are the champions.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
