The gold medal match got off to an exhilarating start with four goals in the opening 28 minutes. Enzo Millot’s effort somehow made its way past a sorry Arnau Tenas but Fermin Lopez scored twice in seven minutes – his fifth and sixth goals of the tournament – to turn the game on its head, and Alex Baena made it 3-1 with a sublime free-kick.
France were better in the second half and forced three impressive stops from Tenas. They eventually found a way through when Maghnes Akliouche turned home Michael Olise’s free-kick in the 78th minute, setting up a tense finish inside the Parc des Princes.And the hosts completed the most remarkable comeback when Benat Turrientes brought down Arnaud Kalimuendo inside the penalty area in the 89th minute. Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta looked like the calmest person in the stadium as he dispatched the penalty to send the final to extra-time.
The momentum was with France, so it came as a shock to those inside the stadium when Rayo Vallecano’s Sergio Camello made it 4-3 to Spain in the first half of extra-time with a wonderfully composed finish. This time, France were unable to find a way back into the game – indeed, Camello made it 5-3 in the 121st minute to add the cherry on top for Spain – and they will leave with a silver medal.
