In pictures: Celebrations as France win second World Cup after Moscow thriller

France see off a dogged Croatia side who refused to lie down in one of the most electrifying finals in recent years.
Published July 16, 2018

France erupted in joy on Sunday as the country clinched the World Cup, with fans streaming into the streets, honking car horns and flying the tricolore flag at the start of an enormous national celebration.

The breathless 4-2 victory against Croatia under stormy skies at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium means Didier Deschamps' side — balancing youthful vitality and tournament nous — have buried the pain of their defeat in the Euro 2016 final on home soil.

For Croatia, a country of just four million people, the loss spells bitter pain but fans at home will celebrate the best run in the nation's history, which featured a stunning win against Argentina and a semi-final victory against England.

French players celebrate at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 football World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday. — AP
French players celebrate at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 football World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Sunday. — AP

France's Olivier Giroud, left, and France's Corentin Tolisso, centre, celebrate after winning 4-2 in the final match between France and Croatia. — AP
France's Olivier Giroud, left, and France's Corentin Tolisso, centre, celebrate after winning 4-2 in the final match between France and Croatia. — AP

Croatia's Domagoj Vida sits on the pitch at the end of the final match between France and Croatia. — AP
Croatia's Domagoj Vida sits on the pitch at the end of the final match between France and Croatia. — AP

People gather on the fan zone in front of the Eiffel Tower to watch the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia, on the Champ de Mars in Paris. — AFP
People gather on the fan zone in front of the Eiffel Tower to watch the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia, on the Champ de Mars in Paris. — AFP

French players throw France head coach Didier Deschamps into the air celebrating at the end of the final match between France and Croatia. — AP
French players throw France head coach Didier Deschamps into the air celebrating at the end of the final match between France and Croatia. — AP

France's Adil Rami celebrates with the trophy after the final match between France and Croatia. — AP
France's Adil Rami celebrates with the trophy after the final match between France and Croatia. — AP

Croatian players after the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. — AP
Croatian players after the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. — AP

US singer Will Smith (C), Kosovo's singer Era Istrefi (L) and US rapper Nick Rivera Caminero aka Nicky Jam (R) perform during the closing ceremony prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup final match. — AFP
US singer Will Smith (C), Kosovo's singer Era Istrefi (L) and US rapper Nick Rivera Caminero aka Nicky Jam (R) perform during the closing ceremony prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup final match. — AFP

Germany's former captain Philipp Lahm (R) and Russian model Natalia Vodianova pose with the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony of the Russia 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
 — AFP
Germany's former captain Philipp Lahm (R) and Russian model Natalia Vodianova pose with the World Cup trophy during the closing ceremony of the Russia 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. — AFP

US singer Will Smith, Kosovo's singer Era Istrefi and US rapper Nick Rivera Caminero aka Nicky Jam perform during the closing ceremony. — AFP
US singer Will Smith, Kosovo's singer Era Istrefi and US rapper Nick Rivera Caminero aka Nicky Jam perform during the closing ceremony. — AFP

(L to R) Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, IOC President Thomas Bach, French First lady Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and her husband Jakov Grabar-Kitarovic attend the Russia 2018 World Cup final. — AFP
(L to R) Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, IOC President Thomas Bach, French First lady Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and her husband Jakov Grabar-Kitarovic attend the Russia 2018 World Cup final. — AFP

Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho performs during the closing ceremony. — AFP
Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho performs during the closing ceremony. — AFP

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic embraces France's Kylian Mbappe after he received the player of the tournament award. — AP
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic embraces France's Kylian Mbappe after he received the player of the tournament award. — AP

France's Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez celebrate after the final match between France and Croatia. — AP
France's Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez celebrate after the final match between France and Croatia. — AP

Supporters of the French football team celebrate after France won the World Cup final between France and Croatia on the Champ de Mars in Paris. — AP
Supporters of the French football team celebrate after France won the World Cup final between France and Croatia on the Champ de Mars in Paris. — AP

(From L) Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photograph during a symbolic transfer of the authority to Qatar to host the World Cup 2022 at the Kremlin in Moscow. — AFP
(From L) Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photograph during a symbolic transfer of the authority to Qatar to host the World Cup 2022 at the Kremlin in Moscow. — AFP

In this picture taken from the terrace of the Publicis Group, people take to the streets around the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate France's World Cup victory over Croatia, in Paris. — AP
In this picture taken from the terrace of the Publicis Group, people take to the streets around the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate France's World Cup victory over Croatia, in Paris. — AP

France's Olivier Giroud lifts the trophy after France won 4-2 during the final match between France and Croatia. — AP
France's Olivier Giroud lifts the trophy after France won 4-2 during the final match between France and Croatia. — AP


Header photo credit: AFP