Pockets of looting broke out on the Champs-Élysées as French fans celebrated their side's World Cup win


Two football fans have died in France overnight as World Cup celebrations were marred by violence following the national side's victory over Croatia in Moscow.

Police forces fired tear gas as scuffles and pockets of looting broke out on the Champs-Élysées where a million people partied into the night.

Revellers set off smoke bombs in the national colours - blue, white and red - obscuring Napoleon's triumphal arch as officers tackled the crowd using water canons.

People climbed on newspaper kiosks and bus stops in the area to wave flags while the Marseillaise national anthem rang out and cars honked their horns following the final whistle. But the celebrations soured as looters broke into shop fronts and smashed windows before they were driven back by riot police brandishing shields and batons.

In the Alpine city of Annecy, a 50-year-old France fan broke his neck after jumping into a canal at the end of the team's 4-2 triumph. Then, in nearby Saint-Felix, there was another death when a man in his 30s crashed his car into a tree as he celebrated the win.

There was also serious trouble in the eastern city of Lyon, where hundreds of youths went on the rampage, attacking cars and setting fire to wheelie-bins. One video showed a Lacoste clothes shop being ransacked, as thieves wearing France shirts ran off with T-shirts.

It was a victory for all of France as crowds poured into Paris' Champs-Elysees Avenue (pictured) by the tens of thousands

Even before the final whistle in Moscow, crowds packed the Champs Elysees in central Paris in a repeat of the scenes of 1998. Pictured: Water cannons are used to clear revellers from the Avenue

French fans faced off against riot police on the packed Champs-Elysee as officers attempt to disperse massive crowds. Pictured: A man falls to the floor after inhaling tear gas as French football fans clash with police following celebrations around the Arc de Triomph

France's 4-2 win over Croatia in the World Cup final marks the second time in 20 years France has won the World Cup

France fans clash on the Champs-Elysee following their nation's win in Moscow

About 4,000 police watched over the fan zone - packed to its 90,000 capacity - during the match, then moved to the Champs-Elysees and neighboring streets

Dozens of youths shattered windows at a popular store on the Champs Elysees avenue as festivities spiraled out of control

There was also serious trouble in the eastern city of Lyon, where hundreds of youths went on the rampage, attacking cars and setting fire to wheelie-bins

French anti riot police officers stand guard during clashes in Lyon amid reports hundreds went on the rampage during World Cup celebrations

A car was torched as rioters went on the rampage in the French city of Lyon after the country's World Cup triumph yesterday

Public fountains and other monuments in cities such as Bordeaux and Marseille, as well as Lyon, were filled with youths brandishing flares and throwing bottles.

In Aubenas, in the Ardeche department, three pedestrians walking on the pavement were hit by a car, and then taken to hospital. And in Ajaccio, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, scuffles broke out between France and Croatia supporters.

In Frouard, near the city of Nancy, a three-year-old boy and two six-year-old girls were seriously injured after being struck by a motorcycle, which then fled the scene.

The worst scenes, however, were in central Paris, where the Champs Elysee remained closed in the early hours of Monday after water cannon was used to disperse crowds.

Hundreds of police in riot gear were discretely lined up on side streets to monitor revellers. Typically, celebrations in France end up with some broken shop windows and other destruction, and Sunday was no exception.

Tear gas was lobbed at one point on the Champs-Elysees. About 4,000 police watched over the fan zone - packed to its 90,000 capacity - during the match, then moved to the Champs-Elysees and neighboring streets.

About 30 people, many wearing ski masks, broke into the Publicis Drugstore, leaving with bottles of wine and champagne, smiling and filming themselves with cellphones.

Some also threw objects including bottles and chairs at police forces who responded with tear gas.

'That's not how you celebrate,' a tearful bystander wearing a French team jersey said.

Some 4,000 police and security forces have been deployed across Paris during the World Cup festivities, and a vast security perimeter prohibiting vehicle access has been set up around the Champs Elysees avenue

As the hundreds of thousands of revellers gradually left the famous avenue, police used water cannon to disperse remaining troublemakers at around 1130pm

The worst scenes were in central Paris, where the Champs Elysee remained closed in the early hours of Monday following widespread rioting and looting.

Fans have poured into the streets across the country after the country's second World Cup win, many waving flags and letting off smoke bombs

Dozens of youths shattered windows at a popular store on the Champs Elysees avenue Sunday while hundreds of thousands of fans celebrated France's World Cup victory

Some 4,000 police and security forces have been deployed across Paris during the World Cup festivities, and a vast security perimeter prohibiting vehicle access has been set up around the Champs Elysees avenue

People wrapped in flags arched down the avenue where France displayed its military might a day earlier for Bastille Day

Troublemakers marred some of the festivities at the top of the Champs-Elysees, breaking the window of a major store, throwing bottles, temporary barriers and even a bicycle at riot police as the celebrations wound down close to midnight. Police responded with water cannon and tear gas

A woman shows her dismay after violence broke out on the streets of Paris in the wake of France's World Cup victory last night

Riot police in Lyon used tear gas to disperse crowds after wild celebrations in the city got out of hand. Two fans are pictured covering their faces

As the hundreds of thousands of revellers gradually left the famous avenue, police used water cannon to disperse remaining troublemakers at around 11.30pm.

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

As night fell, The Eiffel Tower flashed 1998-2018 to mark France's two World Cup titles.

The Arc de Triomph was awash in the national colours, lit with the rooster, the faces of the winning team and the words 'Proud to be Blue,' or French. The celebrations were spread across the nation.

For all the crazy antics - and some revellers who got out of control - a sense of patriotism and unity was almost visceral.

Fans tend to an injured supporter as World Cup victory celebrations turned ugly overnight in Paris. Riot police were called in to disperse crowds

French riot police disperse people on the Champs-Elysees amid wild celebrations following France's second World Cup victory

There were clashes in the French capital as riot police were called in to disperse crowds celebrating the country's World Cup win

A couple carry their child away from a flash point as riot police watch on amid scenes of violence in the French capital last night

The World Cup winning jubilation was marred by ugly scenes as clashes unfolded in central Paris. A man is pictured kicking a tear gas canister thrown by riot police

A fan takes aim during violent scenes in the French capital last night. Hundreds of thousands flocked to the city centre to celebrate the national side's historic victory

One fan was left covered in blood on the ground after being caught up in violent scenes in the wake of France's victory

A man in a France shirt holds his hands up as he walks past French riot police. Celebrations were marred by clashes overnight

Earlier the crowds had gathered next to the Eiffel tower to watch the match on vast TV screens.

There were choruses of the Marseillaise and hundreds of thousands of red, white and blue French flags fluttering in the breeze.

The boom of fireworks and firecrackers filled the air and car drivers honked their horns incessantly to celebrate France's second world title after their triumph on home soil in 1998.

A deafening chorus of 'We are the champions, We are the champions' rang out from the Sacre Coeur in the north of the city to the Sorbonne on the Left Bank.

Even before the final whistle, crowds streamed on to the Champs Elysees, the elegant, tree-lined boulevard that runs up to the Arc de Triomphe, the traditional gathering place for celebration, including the Bastille Day parade 24 hours earlier.

'It's just astonishing what they've done,' said Josh, 41, who travelled from Brittany to Paris to watch the match. 'Pogba, Mbappe, Grizou (Griezmann). They're on top of the world,' he said, naming three of the standout players.

Hundred of thousands of French fans flooded the Champs-Elysees to celebrate their nation's World Cup win

Triumph: 90,000 people gathered next to the Eiffel tower to watch the match on vast TV screens

French fans on the Champs de Mars near the Eiffel Tower watch their team's triumph against Croatia in the World Cup final

French fans celebrate their side's victory in front of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Sunday

French President Emmanuel Macron celebrates wildly after France beat Croatia 4-2 to win the World Cup final

French fans watching the game near the Champs-Elysees in Paris celebrate victory

French fans watching the game at the Champs de Mars in Paris celebrate after their side's 4-2 win over Croatia in Moscow

'We're the champions of the world! It's phenomenal, just phenomenal.'

Even football fans who were not rooting for France but found themselves in the French capital for the game were overcome by the occasion and the amazing scenes of celebration.

'France was not my team but I am so pleased for them today,' said Sarah, a 24-year-old from Birmingham in England who is studying medicine in Paris.

'The players just showed something special all along, something that I liked, and I was not sure they would win today but they did. A lot of people are going to be drunk, if not already.'

French fans watch the game under the Eiffel Tower in Paris as their side won a second World Cup title with victory over Croatia

France fans celebrate in Paris as they watch their side claim a second World Cup title with a win over Croatia in Moscow

Paris erupts as French fans celebrate their side's World Cup triumph on the Champs-Elysees in the city centre today

French television channels showed scenes of celebration in Marseille and across the south of France while in Moscow, where tens of thousands of fans travelled to watch the game, together with President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, there were tears of joy among the sea of red, white and blue.

While the French celebrated, Croats in Russia and at home contemplated their loss.

Euphoria gave way to a mixture of disappointment and pride for Croatia fans after the national team's first World Cup final ended in disappointment.

Their entry into the World Cup final in Russia brought the country of 4 million people to a standstill as officials and the media described the event as the biggest in Croatia's sports history.

French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kisses the World Cup trophy as France players celebrate their dramatic win over Croatia

Fans wave their flags near the Eiffel Tower in Paris as they watch their side win a second World Cup with a win over Croatia

French fans carry flags and baguettes as they watch their side take on Croatia in the final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium today

French fans cheer in the stadium as they watched their side win the World Cup with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Moscow

French fans watching a live screening of the game in Marseille celebrate one of their team's goals against Croatia today

Fans in the capital Zagreb had crammed into squares and streets and were full of hope and cheering until the last moment.

As the game ended they couldn't hide sadness but many said they were happy at what Croatia has achieved.

Aleksandar Todorovic says 'Of course I am sad. I could see them lift the trophy, but this is really fantastic.'