Paris 2024 Olympics: Spain hopes to cap dominant performances with Olympic gold over host France

Spain wants to cap an outstanding summer where the senior and under 19 teams claimed the European championship titles, less than a year after also winning the UEFA Nations League.

Published : Aug 08, 2024 18:38 IST , PARIS - 2 MINS READ

Spain coach Santi Denia during a press conference ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics final against France.
Spain coach Santi Denia during a press conference ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics final against France. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
infoIcon

Spain coach Santi Denia during a press conference ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics final against France. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

In-form Spain believes it can end a 32-year wait for an Olympic gold in men’s football when it faces host France in Friday’s final at the Parc des Princes.

Spain wants to cap an outstanding summer where the senior and under 19 teams claimed the European championship titles, less than a year after also winning the UEFA Nations League.

Spain coach Santi Denia says his team is aware it is in the perfect position to secure the missing piece from its glittering trophy cabinet.

“We are delighted that we are a benchmark in Europe and the world, it is a job that has been done for years,” coach Denia told a news conference on Thursday.

ALSO READ | Paris 2024 Olympics: France’s story already a success, says an emotional Henry

“We have improved and continued to work, believing in a model of play and a profile of players that represent us.

“If we have been waiting for the gold medal for so many years, it is a challenge and an additional excitement.”

Captain Abel Ruiz echoed his coach words adding is a motivation for the under 23 team having not seen Spain’s title back in 1992 at the Barcelona Games.

“We are motivated, we know that (the gold) is something very important for the country and for us,” Ruiz said.

“It is something that could be historic and for which we have fought hard, we have been in the training camp for 40 days and it is a lot of effort. We are really looking forward to the final.”

The decider will be not be unfamiliar territory for coach Denia, having led Spain to the finals of the Under-17 and Under-19 Euros, winning both, as well as the Under-21 European Championship and the Under-17 World Cup final.

Denia’s squad is widely considered to be among the most talented group of young players to come through in recent decades, and players like Ruiz, Juan Miranda and Sergio Gomez, are hoping for one last triumph before graduating to the senior ranks.

“It’s exciting after many years in the youth teams to come here to Paris to play in the Olympic final with them,” Ruiz said.

“We have always formed strong groups. The key is to be a good team and in this tournament we have also achieved that.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment