France celebrates World Cup success: The good, the bad and the ugly
Fifteen members of France's 23-man squad are of African descent, prompting goalscorer Antoine Griezmann to say: "That's the France we love. Different origins but we are all united."Find the latest football news, stories and opinions on politics, business, society, lifestyle and culture, as well as featured stories and multimedia coverage from SHINE. Some 100,000 gathered at the foot of the Eiffel Tower to take in the action on big screens on Sunday. Once victory had been confirmed — courtesy of a 4-2 win against Croatia — a party atmosphere took hold and went on long into the night. Macron subsequently "dabbed" with French full-back Benjamin Mendy in the changing room. A new generation of heroes had been born and, as if to prove it, their images were beamed 50 meters high on the Arc De Triomphe. Paris metro operator RATP has temporarily renamed six stations in recognition of the team's achievements. "Champs-Elysées - Clémenceau" is now the "Deschamps - Elysées Clemenceau," honoring the team's manager Didier Deschamps, who captained the side to glory back in 1998, while "Victor Hugo" is now the "Victory Hugo Lloris" in a nod to the team's goalkeeper.The day of glory has come," splashed the oldest national daily newspaper in France, Le Figaro. French daily sport newspaper L'Equipe branded it "An Eternal Happiness." "Encore!" said Liberation, alongside a picture of the team holding the trophy. Such moments captivate those not normally swayed by the power of sport. Even Beyonce and Jay-Z got in on the act, performing at the Stade de France wearing French shirts complete with two stars above the crest.
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