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Paul Myers

Lopez and Camello double up as Spain beat France to lift Olympic football crown

Sergio Camello scored twice in extra-time to give Spain a 5-3 victory over France on 9 August in the final of the men's Olympic football competition. AP - Aurelien Morissard

Fermin Lopez and Sergio Camello both bagged a brace on Friday night to steer Spain to a 5-3 victory over France and the 2024 Olympic men's football title.

Lopez cancelled out Millot's 11th minute opener for the hosts and he gave Spain the lead after 25 minutes. Alejandro Baena increased the advantage to silence the fervent partisans at the Parc des Princes.

But with 11 minutes remaining, Maghnes Akliouche pulled a goal back to revivify hopes.

Fermin Lopez scored Spain's first two goals in their 5-3 win over France to win gold in the men's Olympic football competition. AP - Aurelien Morissard

And the final went into extra-time after skipper Jean-Philippe Mateta kept his composure to convert a penalty awarded following the intervention of the video assistant referees during stoppage time.

It was a dramatic conclusion to a pulsating 90 minutes.

Camello, who came on in the 83rd minute for Abel Ruiz, scored his first towards the end of the opening period of extra-time with a clipped finish over the France goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.

His second came as France piled forward searching for an equaliser.

Victory

"They did this. They fought like a family," Spain coach Santi Denia told the Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

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

Spain claimed their first Olympic title in Barcelona in 1992 with a squad featuring Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique who have gone on to carve out successful coaching careers.

France had hoped for a second gold of their own, 40 years after winning in Los Angeles.

"It didn't finish the way we wanted it to," said France boss Thierry Henry.

"It's been a great run and we leave with a medal, so these will be great memories."

The victory completes a glittering summer on the pitch for Spain's men after their triumph in the final against England at the Europeqn championships.

They also recently won the Under-19 Euros by beating France in the final.

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