France 3-5 (aet) Spain: summary, goals, highlights | Olympics soccer gold medal game
France - Spain | Gold medal game, live
Many thanks for joining us today for a men's 2024 Olympic final that will live long in the memory as we enjoyed an eight goal thriller with France digging deep to draw level (3-3) in normal time before a two goal brace from Rayo Vallecano striker Sergio Camello put La Roja ahead in extra time.
Spain win their first Olympic gold in men's football since their triumph in 1992 at the Barcelona games and it was a cruel afternoon for Thierry Henry and his side who never threw in the towel.
Spain add to their gold tally
It's not been a gold medal bonanza for Spain at Paris 2024 but the tally will be boosted after this 120 minutes of enthralling entertainment from Parc des Princes in one of the best finals we've enjoyed over the years in what are traditionally closed and tight contests.
Credit to all players from both sides!
Desolation on the faces of the France players as Spain players celebrate.
Thierry Henry takes the applause from the Parc des Princes crowd in surely one of the most crazy and wild games he will have been involved in during his time in the game.
The whistle sounds and Spain win Olympic gold.
What a game !
Incredible....
What a throw from Arnau and Camello does his thing and clips past Restes.
What a goal !
One minute to be added... Spain can smell the gold.
Locko fires on goal from an acute angle but the effort is well wide.
Final minutes of the game... what a thrilling contest it's been...
is there time for a final twist?
France win a corner as they push with more heart than head.
Five minutes remain in Paris!
Good work from Spain as Turrientes almost finds Camello but Restes is alert in the France goal to intercept.
Pressure mounting on France as they rush every dead ball conscious that time is not on their side.
Berrnabe needs attention for a knock but is back on his feet and seems good to go for the final stretch of extra time.
Tiredness on both sides clearly visible with misplaced passes from both teams...
The minutes ticks down on the Parc des Princes clock and Spain are edging towards their first men's gold in football since 1992.
Gomez almost bags a fifth for Spain but Restes gets down well to save.
For the last time, France get the action underway in Paris as the camera focuses on basketball legend Pau Gasol.
Final words of advice from the respective head coaches....
15 minutes left for Spain to hold on and quarter of an hour left for France to hit back (once again) and tie the action.
Bring the popcorn !
Locko heads inches wide after a fine ball from Olise.
The Brazilian referee calls time on the action with just 15 minutes left.
Doue with a solid strike from inside the box forces Arnau to be alert but the keeper gathers as Spain continue to hold on as we have two minutes of added time.
Two minutes remain in the half in what has been a real rolercoaster of a final.
Is there another twist in the script?
What a goal from Rayo Vallecano striker Camello with shades of Fernando Torres' winner for Spain in the Euro 2008 final.
Gooooooooooooool.
Camello strikes for Spain.
La Roja recover the lead.
The brief rain shower that fell earlier on has given way to blue skies over the Parc des Princes.
The fans still doing their bit to boost 'Les Bleus'
Change for Spain as Miranda makes way for Gutierrez comes on.
A let-off for Spain as the ball squirms across the La Roja goalmouth and Arnaud Kalimuendo was unable to get a touch to steer the ball into the net.
Spain all over the place and France smell blood.
Jon Pacheco carded for Spain as he clashes into Olise.
Olise has been the stand-out player of the game without a doubt!
Just a reminder that should we still be level after 120 minutes of action, then the gold medal will be decided via a penalty shoot-out.
Off we go again in Paris... first period of extra time.
One has to fancy France as Henry's men have all the initiative with Spain limited to counter attacks.
Spain's first extra time of the games with France advancing against Egypt after an additional half an hour of action.
'Wild' gold medal game to be decided in extra time
An absolute belter of a game and a worthy final for the Paris games.
Credit to France for never throwing in the towel as Spain sat that little bit deeper in the second half but it needed a VAR awarded spot kick to offer that lifeline for France.
The Brazilian referee sounds his whistle and we'll have an additional thirty minutes to see what side wins the Olympic gold.
Turrientes strikes the bar in the final minutes of added time.
What a final ...
A final corner for France, this will be the last action of the game no doubt.
Olise delivers and Arnau gathers.
Extra time looming here in Paris and what a turnaround in the second half as France really had to dig deep to draw the final level.
Wow... a major lifeline for France here.
Arnau has been a hero for Spain.
Mateta to take and the Palace man slots home sending Arnau the wrong way.
Miranda the guilty Spain player who is carded for his tug.
That looks like a spot kick to me .... the match official confirms the suspicion and its a penalty for France.
Corner for France ... more pressure for Spain.
The ball is poor and France appeal for a penalty kick.
We'll have five minutes of added time.
Sergio Gomez breaks for Spain but pulls the ball inches wide with an effort that would have sealed the gold for Denia's men.
Three minutes remain...
Nerves visible in Spain's play as the previous crisp passes now give way to rushed and imprecise balls as the fans crank up the noise levels.
It's all France now as they smell blood and the nerves from the Spain team as Sant Denia's side sit deep hoping to see the clock run down.
Spain changes
Baena and Ruiz off
Turrientes and Camello on
The volume levels at the Parc des Princes are cranked up with less than ten minutes left.
Akliouche it was with the flick from a Olise free to put France within one goal of taking the final to extra time.
France pull one back.
It was coming and the ball struck a Spain player on it's way into the net.
Another card for Spain and this time Baena has his name taken for a trip on Olise.
Change for France
off Millot
on Doue
Olise dinks in the free but the ball is nodded over and France see another chance fall by the wayside.
Bernabe carded
Spain break and with a man over, Abel Ruiz tees up Barrios who strikes wide.... not the best ball from Ruiz it has to be said as the rain starts to fall in Paris.
So much for that 0% chance of precipitation forecast pre-game!
Fermin and Pubill are the duo who make way.
What a save from Arnau as he denies a clear goal for France ... the PSG keeper has more than made up for his error after two wonderful stops to keep Spain with their two goal lead.
Juanlu and Bernabe on for Spain.
A murmur of boos breaks out as the mainly France fans feel Spain are taking too much time in moving ahead with kick outs and throw ins.
France appeal again for a spot kick but the ref awards a corner.
Spain desperately clear their lines as the French continue to dominate and press.
Olise really is the danger man for France now with the Bayern Munich player at the heart of all France's attacking threats.
Great chance for Abel Ruiz as the Girona man shoots from an acute angle but blazes wide.
Tired legs blatant now as the game gets less structured and the clock continues to tick towards the 90 minute mark.
Both Arsene Wenger and Didier Deschamps are watching on from the VIP sector at Parc des Princes this evening.
Neither legend of French football will be overly enjoying what they are seeing so far with Les Bleus needing two goals to force extra time.
An hour of the contest gone in Paris and Spain are edging closer to their first men's football gold since 1992.
Miranda steals in at the far post but blazes his volley high and wide.
Spain reduced to quick breaks as France continue to control the game.
France hit the woodwork as a glancing header has Arnau beaten and Spain ride their luck.
Les Bleus bossing the game now !
The Morocco team are in the VIP sector of the Parc des Princes fresh from their bronze medal game where they destroyed Egypt with a 6-0 win last night.
The ball falls to Lukeba and the France defender sees his shot deflected as Les Bleus apply more pressure and the ball ultimately falls to Millot who blazes over the bar.
France really pushing with Spain reduced to launching counter attacks.
Captain Lacazette and Chotard the players making way.
Arnaud Kalimuendo and Akliouche on for Les Bleus
First change for France coming up.
Fermin Lopez strikes from the edge of the French box but drives the ball high and wide.
Plenty of noise being generated by the 45,000 fans at Parc des Princes with Spain sitting very deep at the start of the half.
Subs on both sides warming up with changes expected imminently.
France start the action with no changes at the break it appears.
The 22 players are back on the Parc des Princes pitch as we await the start of the second half.
A real rollercoaster of a half with Thierry Henry's men stating the game as the better side and finding the net early in the contest as Millot's shot squirmed into the net after a poor error from Arnau.
Spain hit back in blistering fashion with captain Fermin Lopez leading by example bagging a brace in the space of three minutes before Baena slotted home a direct free to leave France reeling.
A late rally from Les Bleus almost lead to a second and Thierry Henry will look for a strong start to the second half to get his team back in contention with still plenty of football to be played in Paris.
That save from Arnau in the last passage of play really was different class !
Bade gets the second card of the game for dissent.
France finishing the half strongly as they look to bag a second... Olise steers the ball inches wide after a big call from the side in blue for a spot kick which was waved away by the Brazilian referee.
Spain riding their luck after a wonderful save from Arnau ... the subsequent corner sees the ball squirm past the goal mouth and no-one in a blue jersey was alert to strike the ball home.
Spain's goal heroes
Fermin and Baena, Spain's goal scorers who have La Roja on track for a gold in Paris.
We're going to have 7 minutes of added time... not sure where that time comes from as we've had one or two brief stoppages, nothing more.....
Into the final minute of the half and Spain are still dominating as France look to forge a way back into the final.
Spain press as Miranda shoots but the ball was aimed straight at the French keeper.
Les Bleus really struggling to get into the action after being hit three times in quick succession and will look forward to the interval for a brief 'reset'.
France enjoy a sustained spell of possession as the home crowd look to play their art in spurring on the home side.
The move breaks down and the ball is back with Spanish keeper Arnau.
Spain have been super effective in front of goal bagging three from their four efforts on target.
France have two shots on target resulting in their solitary goal.
First card of the game goes to France's Kone as he clips Oroz.
Spain brimming with confidence now and totally dominating the action.
Thierry Henry bellowing instructions to his men on the touchline.
Not the game plan the former Arsenal legend would have mapped out pre-game.
Spain in control in Paris
We pass the half hour mark and Spain are looking sold now after being second best for the first 10-15 minutes or so.
Second goal of the tournament for the Villarreal man as his free kick leaves Restes rooted to the spot.
Spain really on a roll now.
Spain win a dangerous free at the edge of the France box.
Fermin and Baena over the ball.
Baena strikes and slots home .....
Gol, gol, gol...
Spain strike again !
The 6th goal for the Barcelona man at the Olympics who was alert at the far post to stab home from close range as the France keeper saved and the striker and captain was alert to poke the ball home.
What a start to the final
Millot opens the scoring for France in the 11th minute ony for Spain to draw level seven minutes later.
A clash of heads between Mateta and Garcia forces the referee to halt the game as both players need medical attention.
Spain draw level....
Fermin Lopez bags the equaliser and his fifth of the tournament as he swivels at the edge of the box to steer the ball into the corner of the France net.
Still, this is the pattern we saw in Munich when France took the lead against Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-final.
Spain were their own worst enemy in the build up to the goal as the ball fell to Millot from a poor defensive clearance and the strike from the France No. 12 really should have been stopped by Arnau.
Stuttgart's Millot bags his first goal of the tournament and France now looking more than comfortable with Spain reeling from the strike.
Gooooool.
France take the lead and one has to say that the Spanish keeper should have kept that out as the ball creeps intro the corner of the net.
Millot with the opening goal of the final.
Baena creeps into an offside position as he picks up a neatly flighted ball and Spain's move breaks down.
Better from Denia's men in the past few minutes as they keep France at bay.
Solid defending from Bade thwarts an attack from Spain led by Fermin who reacts quickly from a quick throw in for La Roja.
Little consistent rhythm to the game so far with the tempo being broken up by the sound of the Brazilian referee's whistle but France have enjoyed the better of this disjointed opening.
Concern for Spain as Fermin has taken a knock and needs medical attention. The Barça man is back on his feet and looks okay to continue.
First chant of 'Allez les Bleus' breaks out from the crowd as France threaten through Lyon striker and captain Lacazette.
Mr Abatti from Brazil sounds his whistle and off we go in Paris.
National anthem time
Both sides are on the pitch at Parc des Princes.
Spain today wearing their 'lemon' change colours as the visitors and France in their iconic blue jersey, white shorts and red socks.
Mateta and Fermin eye Rahimi
With eight goals in the competition, Moroccan striker Soufiane Rahimi is the top scorer at the 2024 Olympics with 8 goals, at present both France and Spain top scorers Mateta and Fermin Lopez have bagged four a piece and it would appear unlikely that the Al Ain striker will be caught.
PARIS / Kiko Huesca / EFE
Parc des Princes filling up
More than 45,000 fans are expected to attend tonight's final with red, white and blue expected to be the predominant colour in the stands.
Henry invokes French support
Thierry Henry left a message on social media to rally support for his U-23 team ahead of today's gold medal game in Paris.
Spain look to avenge Tokyo defeat
A goal for Brazil in added time broke Spanish hearts at the Tokyo games three years with Santi Denia's men looking to make amends for their previous gold medal final defeat.
Malcolm was on hand in the 108th minute to bag the decisive goal as part of a 2-1 (AET) win for Brazil.
Gold medal final weather
It's an overcast and warm evening in the French capital with a current temperature of 26C/78F.
The good news for players, spectators and officials is that no rain is forecast during the match and subsequent medal ceremony.
Baena and Lopez looking to make history
Alex Baena and Fermin Lopez could write a new chapter in the footballing history books this evening should Spain win with the pair set to become the only players ever to win both a European Championship winners medal and Olympic gold in the same summer.
Spain check out Parc del Princes surface
With kick-off looming, the Spain team inspect the pitch at the Parc des Princes.
France team confirmed
Thierry Henry has confirmed his team for the final in Paris with Lacazette captaining the side and the striker leading the line along with Mateta.
Team News: Spain
The Spain starting XI has been confirmed with striker Abel Ruiz leading the line for 'La Roja'.
Path to the final: France
Group Stage
France 3-0 USA
France 1-0 Guinea
New Zealand 0-3 France
Quarter Final
France 1-0 Argentina
Semi-final
France 3-1 Egypt (AET)
Path to the final: Spain
Group Stage
Spain 2-1 Uzbekistan
Dominican Republic 1-3 Spain
Spain 1-2 Egypt
Quarter Final
Japan 0-3 Spain
Semi-final
Spain 2-1 Morocco
Spain are ginning for their first men's football gold since their 1992 triumph in Barcelona with the last France gold coming back in the 1984 LA games.
Match officials confirmed
34-year-old Brazilian Ramon Abbati has been appointed to oversee today's gold medal match in Paris with his first international showing coming in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The action in the French capital gets underway at 6 pm (local time) / 1200 pm ET with Thierry Henry's men looking to avenge the defeat at the hands of Spain in the senior team's recent Euro 2024 tournament as Les Bleus were eliminated at the semi-final stage.
Hello and a warm welcome to you all for our live coverage of the gold medal game as France face Spain at the Parc des Prince in Paris.