French players were spotted looking dejected at Lusail stadium this evening after a nail-biting World Cup finale that saw them narrowly lose to Argentina.
The play-off has been hailed as the greatest Word Cup ending in living memory and among the best matches ever.
But France’s heart-racing effort to draw even with Argentina at 3-3 after extra time came to a blistering halt when Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning penalty shot.
Gloom fell across France tonight after the disappointing end of the match.
lian Mbappe looks dejected as he walks past the FIFA World Cup Trophy during the trophy ceremony after France lost the Qatar 2022 World Cup final
France players stand somberly on the podium after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 finale
Eduardo Camavinga (25) of France is seen with the medal next to the trophy
Head coach of France Didier Deschamps receives the medal from French President Emmanuel Macron in the trophy presentation
President Emmanuel Macron hands the FIFA Golden Boot award to Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe of France looks dejected after the final penalty shoot out loss
The freezing streets of major cities including Paris were turned into seas of discarded blue-red-and white confetti as chants of Allez les bleus ! (Come on the Blues!) and renditions of La Marseillaise national anthem finally died out.
‘We are all devastated – that was the best World Cup final ever, but our penalties were not good enough.’ said Eléa Avel, who has been supporting her national side since the early 1980s.
‘We lost our nerve – and perhaps were not as fit as we should have been,’ said the 53-year-old, as she wore a dark blue cockerel hat and France flag over her shoulders close to the Louvre museum, in central Paris.
There had been reports of a virus in the France camp in Qatar, with players complaining of flu-like symptoms, and being sapped of energy.
Ms Avel said: ‘This is no excuse, but the health of the players was clearly an issue. I remember our first World Cup win in 1998, then again in Russia in 2018, and now we are no longer World Champions. It is a terrible feeling.’
Kylian Mbappe of France lowers his head (left) as he walks past the FIFA World Cup Trophy and (right) Mbappe holding the Golden Boot award for top goal scorer of the tournament during the awards ceremony
France football supporters in Lille react after the World Cup finale loss with Argentina
Matteo Guendouzi and Randal Kolo Muani comfort each other, next to a dejected Kylian Mbappe after the World Cup finale
There were only around 6000 France supporters watching the game this time around in Qatar, but millions were packed into bars and cafés back home.
They included those watching on TV around Argentine, the stop on the Line 1 of the Paris Metro underground train system which had been renamed France for the day.
Those in Doha included President Emmanuel Macron, who could be seen punching the air every time France scored, but then looking dejected out on the pitch.
After he reassured Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick but who was still on the losing side, the France forward just walked away, looking glum faced.
‘He’s rightly down, and so are we,’ said Gilles Durand, 42, who watched the epic clash in the Frog & Rosbif pub in Paris.
‘It was jammed packed, but nobody was worrying about that,’ said Mr Duran. ‘There is so much emotion. This brings us altogether as a nation, no matter what the score. I love football!’
Like so many of the crowds building up around the capital, Mr Duran had entered to travel to the Champs Élysées – the grand avenue traditionally used by the French to celebrate their World Cup wins, but then cancelled his journey.
Some 2000 police, including riot control units supported by water cannon and armoured cars, were on duty.
By 7pm, there had been around five arrests for public order offences, including letting off fireworks.
Beyond Allez les Bleus and La Marseillaise. other favourite songs blaring out of portable sound systems included I Will Survive, Bring the Cup Home, and the Eurodance hit, Freed from Desire.
Amira Bennani, 34, who was out watching the game with her two young children said: ‘It is an incredible night for all of us, but we have had enough. We are no longer World Champions, so congratulations to Argentina!’
A 14-year-old Paris schoolboy who asked to be referred to as Jean said: ‘The first World Cup I enjoyed properly was France winning in Russia, and now we lose in Qatar. I am so unhappy, and so is the whole of France.
‘At least we were in the final. The team finally woke up at the end of the game, but it was not enough.’
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