The Paris 2024 Olympics will live long in the memory of France's men's football team after they just missed out on gold in front of a home crowd. However, Theo de Parcin may sooner forget the festivities after he was the only member of Thierry Henry's squad denied a silver medal.
The Auxerre goalkeeper was unique among France's ranks this summer in that he was the only one of 22 players called up to not play a single minute of the competition. And he was noticeably lacking a medal around his neck while many of his compatriots celebrated their runner-up finish following a 5-3 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final.
De Parcin, 23, was not part of Henry's main 18-man squad, but he was named as one of four alternates permitted in case of injury. All of France's three outfield alternates were called upon at one point or another, but one-time Martinique international De Parcin never managed to make it onto a team sheet.
Related articles
Article 30.1 of the Olympic Football Tournament regulations - as laid out by FIFA - states: "Should an alternate player replace a player and appear on the start list, said alternate player will also obtain a medal should their team finish first, second or third in the Tournaments, in addition to the replaced player."
That clarification appears to suggest De Parcin would have earned a medal had he even been named on the bench at any point. However, it seems Henry was not in a charitable enough mood to promote his third-choice goalkeeper at the risk of weakening his other options.
France's three other alternates each started in France's dead rubber group game against New Zealand. With a first-place finish in Group A already assured, Monaco's Chrislain Matsima, Lens' Andy Diouf and Lyon's Johann Lepenant each came into Henry's XI.
Michael Olise - who recently joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace - was also seen without a medal during the podium celebrations. However, that was after the playmaker took his off in disappointment at missing out on the gold.
The team talisman starred as one of France's most impressive players throughout the tournament. And while others revelled in the achievement of medalling at all, Olise was clearly unimpressed he and his team-mates had missed out on the top prize.
De Parcin may have jumped at the chance to take home a piece of silverware, even given his minimal involvement in France's matches. However, goalkeepers Obed Nkambadio and Guillaume Restes held down the fort for the hosts between the posts.
Spain, meanwhile, handed out the maximum 22 gold medals to their squad after calling on all four of their alternates, including third-choice goalkeeper Alejandro Iturbe. Santi Denia led his team to the top of the podium just weeks after the country conquered England to clinch the Euro 2024 crown, marking a summer of rampant success for Spain.
