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Oliver Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Kylian Mbappé and national coach Didier Deschamps (from left) on the balcony of the Hotel de Crillon in Paris
Photo: CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP
The defeat in the World Cup final was painful, so the French national team had planned to go straight home after their return from Qatar.
But they had reckoned without French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron officially asked the vice world champions around star player Kylian Mbappé to present themselves to the home fans despite the defeat.
In doing so, he still ensured a short-term reception in Paris.
This was announced by the French Football Association FFF.
FFF President Noel Le Graet initially accepted the players' original decision "due to disappointment, sadness and strong emotions".
However, this changed on Monday around 10 a.m. after a conversation with Macron.
According to Le Graet, the President wished for "a moment of community": "Of course I agreed with the team."
After some back and forth, the runner-up finally appeared on Monday evening for a short time on the balcony of the five-star Hotel Crillon on the Place de la Concorde.
Around 50,000 supporters received the Deschamps team with thunderous cheers, many of the fans had stayed out in the cold for more than four hours.
France international Thuram: "It warms the heart"
Several national players were impressed by the sight of the crowds.
"It's great, it warms the heart," said Gladbach striker Marcus Thuram, who only jumped on the World Cup train as a substitute: "It's a great pleasure to see that we were able to make so many French proud and happy. «
Despite the absence of several top performers such as Karim Benzema, who recently retired from the national team, France narrowly missed out on becoming the first team since 1962 to win the World Cup twice in a row against Lionel Messi and Co.
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