Two people died as millions took to the streets to celebrate France's World Cup win over Croatia on Sunday.

In the southeast city of Annecy, a 50-year-old man died after breaking his neck when he jumped into a shallow canal just when the final whistle blew on the 4-2 victory.

Elsewhere, a man in his thirties died after crashing his car into a tree in the northern town of Saint-Felix while celebrating the team's triumph.

And while millions of people in France were overjoyed at the win there were some ugly scenes involving groups of fans who clashed with police.

Thousands gathered along the Champs Elysees in the French capital Paris as the victory played out in Moscow.


Many were draped in red, white and blue and letting off flares, others sang the Marseillaise, and car honking rang out as people danced and shouted in the streets.

:: France win World Cup with 4-2 victory against Croatia

But as the evening wore on, some fans clashed with police, damaging businesses and properties.

Image: Riot police advance during the Champs Elysees clashes

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.

Police used water cannon to disperse the last remaining troublemakers at around 11.30pm on Sunday.

Elsewhere, authorities said clashes erupted in the southern city of Lyon between police and about 100 people who had climbed on top of a police vehicle at an open-air showing of the match in the city centre.

Image: Hundreds of thousands of exuberant French fans celebrated their national team's victory in good humour

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.

:: Five other winners from the tournament in Russia

Some 4,000 police and security forces were deployed across Paris during the World Cup festivities, with a vast security perimeter prohibiting vehicle access set up around the Champs Elysees.

France remains on high alert following a string of terror attacks since 2015, which prompted the government to grant the police extended powers under tough new anti-terror laws enacted last year.