Spain has reached the men’s football final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, marking their return to the Olympic final stage after winning gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and finishing as runners-up to Brazil at the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Substitute Juanlu Sanchez scored in the 85th minute to secure Spain’s place in a record-equaling fifth Olympic final, with a 2-1 victory over Morocco at the Stade de Marseille.
Morocco took the lead in the 37th minute when Soufiane Rahimi, the tournament’s leading scorer, converted a penalty to make it 1-0 at halftime. Spain equalized in the 65th minute through Fermin Lopez, who showed quick footwork in the box before firing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner for his fourth goal of the tournament.
Lopez’s goal celebration earned him a yellow card after he kicked the corner flag, breaking it in two. Lopez also provided the assist for Sanchez’s winning goal, setting him up to score low into the far corner. Lopez, who joined the Olympic squad after the Euros, became the first Spanish player to score four or more goals at the Olympics since Kiko in 1992.
Spain will face either France or Egypt in the final.
