France gives World Cup winners a heroes' welcome

World
Europe

The World Cup-winning French team returned home to a heroes' welcome on Monday, parading down the Champs-Elysees as hundreds of thousands of cheering fans gave a raucous welcome to the country's newest idols.

After overcoming a determined Croatia to win 4-2 in Sunday's final in Russia, the team came back to euphoric crowds in Paris hoping to catch a glimpse of the players that have captured the country's imagination.

The Bus of France's World Cup Winning Team Parade Down The Champs Elysees on July 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

They did not disappoint, passing the golden World Cup trophy from player to player as they jumped and danced on an open-air bus with "World Champions" emblazoned on its side.

"Wow, it was completely crazy! They are too beautiful, France is beautiful!" said Julia Cohen, 28, after seeing the players pass by on the Champs-Elysees, the gathering point for all national celebrations.

The parade took place under heavy police guard, with some of the 2,000 officers deployed in the capital to ensure the safety of the estimated 300,000 people who turned up.

Above the partying crowds, nine jets from the Patrouille de France, the air force's acrobatic unit, did an honorary flyover trailing blue, white and red smoke.

French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd L, 1 Row) and his wife Brigitte Macron (L, 1 Row) welcome the French football team at the presidential Elysee palace. /VCG Photo

After leaving the Champs-Elysees, the players changed into custom-made blue suits before being welcomed at the Elysee Palace by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, who were also decked out in blue for the occasion.

Macron has already promised the Legion of Honor for the victors' "exceptional services" to the country, an award given to the legendary team that won France's first World Cup title in 1998.

The first couple then posed with the team as they sang the Marseillaise national anthem and waved scarves for a joyous group photo, before heading inside for a private meeting.

"Thanks to you all!" Macron told the team after gathering again outside. "This team is beautiful because you are united!"

Brigitte Macron and Paul Pogba (R) hold up the World Cup trophy at a reception for France's national football team at Elysee Palace on July 16, 2018. /VGC Photo

Midfielder Paul Pogba, despite his voice nearly failing him, then proved himself a showman off the pitch as well as on by leading the guests in an impromptu celebratory rap punctuated by "Allez les Bleus!"

"It's true, we went on the pitch, and we said, We're going to crush them all!" he said.

Nearly 3,000 guests were received in the Elysee gardens, including around 1,000 youths from local football clubs such as Bondy, the gritty Paris suburb whose towering housing blocks produced rising star forward Kylian Mbappe.

Some of the kids even got to touch the famed trophy, which captain Hugo Lloris handed around.

The guests were also treated to the beats of DJ Snake, who has worked with pop stars including Lady Gaga and is part of the Pardon My French collective of French DJs.

Kylian Mbappe at Elysee Palace. /VCG Photo

Mbappe, who applied the coup de grace in the final to cement his place as a new global superstar at just 19, said he achieved what he had set out to do -- win the World Cup.

"We are proud to make the French happy," he told French channel TF1.

Striker Antoine Griezmann said: "Frankly, personally, it's not real yet. This cup weighs a lot."

"We are trying to give a good image for France, for French players. I hope that lots of young people will have seen this match and do the same," he added.

Macron had already celebrated with the team on Sunday -- even doing "dab" dance moves with players in a video that has gone viral -- after attending the final in Moscow.

Source(s): AFP