Spain’s Euro-winning coach urges respect for Spanish football after Olympic gold

PARIS – An ecstatic Luis de la Fuente, coach of Spain’s senior national team, said his country’s football should be more highly valued after the Under-23 side’s 5-3 extra-time triumph over hosts France in the Olympic final on Aug 9.

The 63-year-old led the U-23 team to a silver medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021 before taking over the senior team and winning the European Championship in July.

Sergio Camello struck twice in extra time to help Spain clinch the gold after Thierry Henry’s men staged a dramatic comeback from 3-1 down to draw in regulation play.

De la Fuente called for appreciation of the gold won by Santi Denia’s squad, Spain’s first since 1992, and the hard work behind it, capping a summer which saw their U-19 team also claiming the European title.

“We are not aware of what we have achieved this year and we do not value Spanish football enough. Let’s get rid of our prejudices, really, almost no team can achieve this,” said the 63-year-old. “Let’s give importance to what has been achieved today.

“This is a historic night, we have lived an epic story that will go down in the history of the Olympics and Spanish sport.”

De la Fuente also praised Fermin Lopez and Alex Baena, who joined the Olympic team after being part of his Euro squad. They became the only two players, alongside France's Albert Rust in 1984, to win both titles in the same summer.

The Olympic title also represents the first gold medal in a team sport for Spain in 28 years.

It had looked as though they 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 Lopez brace and a Baena free kick turned the final 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 following a video assistant referee review.

That took the final into extra time, where Rayo Vallecano forward Camello emerged as the hero by regaining Spain’s lead in the 100th minute, and then sealing 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,” Denia told radio station Cadena Cope.

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

France coach Thierry Henry said his men should be proud, despite failing to win their first football gold in 40 years.

“It was magical,” said the former Le Bleus and Arsenal great. “I told the guys that I was proud of them and that we’ve got a medal at the end. Sure this is not how we wanted to be but the story is amazing. I think everybody enjoyed. It didn’t end well but there was emotion, a medal and a beautiful journey.

“It’s difficult to celebrate this medal but we have to. There was a story, an amazing human journey.” REUTERS, AFP