France v Spain: Olympic men’s football final – live | Football

GOAL! France 1-1 Spain (Lopez 18)

17 min “The Spanish goalkeeper’s howler reminds me of Luis Arconada’s mistake 40 years ago when these nations last met in a final at the Parc des Princes (2-0 for France to win Euro 1984),” writes Amar Breckenridge.

That’s a great comparison – I didn’t realise, until checking it just now, that Arconada also wrongfooted himself.

16 min “I have just seen the first goal in slow motion at least five times,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Does it count as an assist by Spain?”

14 min It’s all France at the moment. Millot’s cross nutmegs Miranda and only just evades Mateta in front of goal.

What a strange goal. A cross from the right was half blocked near the byline, then a Spain defender miskicked their clearance under pressure from Lacazette. Millot ran onto the loose ball, on the right edge of the area, and curled a first-time shot that Tenas – who wrongfooted himself by moving towards the near post – could only punch into the other corner of the net.

GOAL! France 1-0 Spain (Millot 12)

7 min Abel Ruiz threatens to get away down the left, running onto a long pass, but Bade catches him up and then dispossesses him with the minimum of fuss.

5 min It’s been a stop-start start to the game, and yes I know there’s a more elegant way of saying that but it won’t come to mind. A stop-start opening just sounds weird.

3 min Now Fermin Lopez is down after being kneed in the vicinity by Lukeba. It was accidental but looked pretty painful, and Lopez is still wriggling in pain as he receives treatment.

2 min “This had better be good,” fumes Charles Antaki. “The Spain women’s team were an absolute bust against a dismally defensive Germany, the thing settled by a successful penalty against a poorly taken and any case not particularly well-deserved one. So far then, Spain nil, entertainment nil. Time for Fermin Lopez and company to step up.”

1 min Sergio Gomez goes down holding his face after a hand-off from Sildillia. The crowd jeer heartily and eventually he gets to his feet.

1 min Peep peep! Spain, in their pale yellow change kit, kick off from right to left as we watch.

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “If anyone thinks there is nothing between France and Spain, I say look at the map and apologise to the nearest Andorran.”

As the players stand for the anthems, here’s a quick reminder of the two teams.

France (possible 4-3-1-2) Restes; Sildillia, Bade, Lukeba, Truffert; Millot, Kone, Chottard; Olise; Mateta, Lacazette.
Substitutes: Nkambadio, Akliouche, Cherki, Doue, Kalimuendo, Locko, Magassa.

Spain (possible 4-2-3-1) Tenas; Pubill, E Garcia, Cubarsi, Miranda; Barrios, Baena; Oroz, Lopez, Gomez; Ruiz.
Substitutes: S Garcia, Bernabe, Camello, Gutierrez, Pacheco, Sanchez, Turrientes.

Referee Rafael da Silva Alves (Brazil)

France have also won this competition once, in Los Angeles in 1984. Their star was the Lens striker Daniel Xuereb; he scored four times in three knockout games, including the clincher in a 2-0 win over Brazil in the final.

Spain have won gold in the men’s football just once, in Barcelona in 1992. A star-studded team – Pep, Albert Ferrer, Kiko, Abelardo, Alfonso, Luis Enrique – beat Poland 3-2 in a classic final.

Read Jonathan Liew on Thierry Henry

For all the abundant talent in this French side – Michael Olise, Mateta, Alexandre Lacazette – it is Henry who lends the star wattage to Friday’s Olympic final against Spain, gives it shape and meaning. As a player Henry won everything. As a coach he has won nothing, to the point where it was legitimate to ask whether he had a future in a career for which he clearly had so much passion and enthusiasm.

Team news

Preamble