If you were supporting the French, and you jumped off the couch to fist pump a goal, you weren’t alone.
That’s French president Emmanuel Macron above, in one of the final’s more iconic images, and back in the land of the baguette the party went late into the night.
Most of the neutrals were rooting for Croatia, and for good reason, but in the end their pluck and courage wasn’t enough to beat a classy French outfit.
Before we get to the jol, let’s revisit the highlights from yesterday’s match:
You can bet that penalty call is going to be talked about for decades in Croatia, and it almost caused a fight in the SuperSport studio between Andy Townsend and Jay-Jay Okocha.
Just after the final whistle rang out, the heavens opened, and the players collected their medals.
With the rain pissing down, and only Putin being given an umbrella whilst Macron and Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović were soaked to the bone, local comedian Yaaseen Barnes spotted a nip-slip of sorts:
That’s French back-up ‘keeper Alphonse Areola receiving his winner’s medal, in case you’re wondering.
I suppose all you can do is laugh, like FIFA’s president did:
#WorldCupFinal
Gianni Infantino (FIFA) laughing at the fact that Putin (Russia) is only one protected with umbrellapic.twitter.com/MRpqvUqVUF
— طبيب برشلونة (@MJM_Alhabsi) July 15, 2018
And you wonder why Putin and Trump get on so well…
Anyway, back to the footie. Coach Didier Deschamps’ post-match press conference didn’t go exactly to plan, but I’m sure he won’t mind:
#FRA players just stormed the press conference chanting Didier Deschamps’ name. Raucous. pic.twitter.com/EmVEjDWNct
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) July 15, 2018
The scenes back home in France were also off the charts, but not all of it was celebratory. Via Sky News:
While millions of people in France celebrated World Cup victory there were some ugly scenes involving groups of fans who clashed with police.
…as the evening wore on, some fans clashed with police, damaging businesses and properties.
Around 30 people, many with their faces covered, broke the windows of a shop on the Champs Elysees, some filming themselves on their phones, according to eyewitnesses.
Some also threw objects including bottles and chairs at police officers who responded with tear gas.
“That’s not how you celebrate,” a tearful bystander wearing a French team jersey said.
A clearly dronkverdriet bystander, one feels.
Clashes also erupted in Lyon between police and about 100 people, who climbed on top of a police vehicle at an open-air showing of the match in the city centre:
Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd who responded by throwing objects and setting rubbish bins on fire, with the unrest causing some stampeding.
Ten people were arrested in Marseille, where two members of the security forces were injured in clashes, a police spokesman said.
Having watched people rock a police car off its wheels during the 2007 Rugby World Cup final celebrations, I find that rather tame.
Well, that’s the tip of the iceberg. Some of the scenes that unfolded:
Violence and riots being reported in #France after the country’s #WorldCup win pic.twitter.com/9i7r2i1d9F
— Quoth the Raven (@QTRResearch) July 15, 2018
France wins the World Cup! What happens next surprises no one.. Thugs loot, burn & steal.
It is sad when victory turns into violence.
pic.twitter.com/YCzKOmQsfS— Kevin W (@kwilli1046) July 15, 2018
#TheCube | While much of France took part in jubilant celebrations after last night’s World Cup win, there were some scenes of people hijacking the happy occasion with violence and looting. @NewsAMorgan tells us more.https://t.co/Rve1LoJ3Pb pic.twitter.com/O5QaeyeD4j
— euronews (@euronews) July 16, 2018
If destruction is your thing, you’ll find this compilation up your alley:
This is why we can’t have nice things, right?
Unfortunately, according to NewsAU, the celebrations/riots turned deadly:
France’s World Cup celebrations have been marred after two fans died and police were forced to fire tear gas amid clashes with football fans…
In the Alpine city of Annecy a 50-year-old France fan broke his neck [not this man below] after jumping into a canal at the end of the team’s 4-2 triumph over Croatia in Moscow on Sunday.
Then, in nearby Saint-Felix, there was another death when a man in his 30s died when his car crashed into a tree as he celebrated the win [not the man above].
One has to wonder what might have happened had they lost.
I’m sure the country is waking up with a hangover and a big smile, but maybe also a touch of the LCs as they see the misdeeds of their fans splashed across the news.
Allez les Bleus.
