France's heartbroken stars return home to heroes' welcome at Charles de Gaulle airport

Didier Deschamps and his side have returned to a heroes welcome in Paris after agonisingly missing out on the World Cup. 

Twice trailing – initially by two goals to nil and then with only minutes remaining in extra-time – France took the game to penalties before finally being undone by some Emiliano Martinez brilliance and poor execution. 

Despite the loss, around 50,000 gathered at the capital’s Place de la Concorde to give the players a welcome worthy of them winning the prize as the squad were offered countless well wishes.

Kylian Mbappe looked particularly unperturbed by crowds - clearly still devastated by defeat

Kylian Mbappe looked particularly unperturbed by crowds – clearly still devastated by defeat

Kylian Mbappe (C,R) looked significantly less enthused than his team-mates on the balcony

Kylian Mbappe (C,R) looked significantly less enthused than his team-mates on the balcony

Deschamps and Hugo Lloris led the team out in front of thousands of cheering supporters in the centre of the city. Kylian Mbappe followed them out, looking slightly more enthused than he had done after stepping off the plane. However, it was telling – when stood alongside his team-mates – how significantly less he appeared to be enjoying the whole occasion. There were no tears from the Frenchman on the pitch in Qatar, though he looked furious and totally despondent throughout the post-match formalities.

His manager did look to help him raise his arm to wave to the adoring supporters watching on. The pain of Sunday’s defeat, barely 24 hours on, had clearly not abated for the young superstar.

The rest of the team followed as they wore brave smiles to show appreciation for the thousands that had come out to support them.

Didier Deschamps even had to aid Mbappe in lifting his arm up to wave to the crowds

Didier Deschamps even had to aid Mbappe in lifting his arm up to wave to the crowds

The France team appeared grateful for the reception they received from the 50,000 or so supporters

The France team appeared grateful for the reception they received from the 50,000 or so supporters

The France squad and staff members took in the adoring shouts from the thousands looking on

The France squad and staff members took in the adoring shouts from the thousands looking on

With Paris currently experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures a little over 10 degrees, supporters headed to the city’s largest square – located to the east of the Champs-Elysees. Flares and other pyrotechnics were let off as their heroes waved and joined in the chanting. 

It marked a joyous return for the players despite the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle. The French football-watching public have appreciated the work done by Deschamps and his team in the face of mounting problems, including turbulence at the country’s national FA, a long list of player injuries and reports of disagreements amongst those within the camp. 

Those problems were put aside as France came within a few penalty kicks of becoming the first side since Brazil in 1962 to retain football’s grandest prize.

A rather - initially, at least - Deschamps and Lloris led their squad out onto the balcony in Paris

A rather – initially, at least – Deschamps and Lloris led their squad out onto the balcony in Paris

Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann - who had both been heavily involved in the triumph of 2018 - appeared to take great delight in the occasion

Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann – who had both been heavily involved in the triumph of 2018 – appeared to take great delight in the occasion 

Supporters were kept a few hundred metres back though let it be known how proud they were

Supporters were kept a few hundred metres back though let it be known how proud they were

Flares and other pyrotechnics were let off by the crowds watching on as they showed their appreciation

Flares and other pyrotechnics were let off by the crowds watching on as they showed their appreciation

Mbappe appeared unable to muster a smile as the pain of the defeat appeared too great for him

Mbappe appeared unable to muster a smile as the pain of the defeat appeared too great for him

The captain and the head coach led the players off the plane as they arrived home in Paris

The captain and the head coach led the players off the plane as they arrived home in Paris

Kylian Mbappe looked particularly glum as he and his France team-mates returned home

Kylian Mbappe looked particularly glum as he and his France team-mates returned home

Deschamps and his players were pictured getting off the plane and onto the tarmac before they headed onto the function on Monday evening. Their families were also photographed emerging from the aircraft. 

The France head coach, who was bidding to become the first manager ever in World Cup history to win back-to-back trophies, was photographed grinning as he arrived home. 

Some of his players, including Kylian Mbappe, however, looked less than impressed as they arrived back in a significantly colder than Qatar France. 

Hugo Lloris and Didier Deschamps both put on brave faces despite having agonisingly missed out on their own respective bits of history

Hugo Lloris and Didier Deschamps both put on brave faces despite having agonisingly missed out on their own respective bits of history

The Paris Saint-Germain forward scored a hat-trick - and his penalty in the shootout - though it was not enough to save his side

The Paris Saint-Germain forward scored a hat-trick – and his penalty in the shootout – though it was not enough to save his side

Mbappe, who became the first player since Geoff Hurst in 1966 to score a World Cup final hat-trick and has vowed that France ‘will return’, had a look of anguish etched across his face as he looked deep in his own thoughts. His efforts, as miraculous as they had been, were not enough to haul his side over the line. 

There was little sign of Kolo Muani, who missed a gilt-edged chance in the dying embers of extra-time to surely win the World Cup. 

Olivier Giroud, who alongside Ousmane Dembele was hauled off unceremoniously before half-time after Deschamps seemingly admitted defeat in his initial team selection, donned a Hawaiian-like neck adornment as he headed for the waiting team coach. 

The AC Milan forward grinned as he shook hands with one of the airport’s staff members on the tarmac.  

The France players stepped off the plane to a heroes' welcome at Charles de Gaulle airport

The France players stepped off the plane to a heroes’ welcome at Charles de Gaulle airport

Olivier Giroud appeared slightly happier than his forward partner Mbappe as he greeted one of the airport's staff members

Olivier Giroud appeared slightly happier than his forward partner Mbappe as he greeted one of the airport’s staff members

The AC Milan forward even donned a Hawaiian-style neck adornment as he stepped onto the runway

The AC Milan forward even donned a Hawaiian-style neck adornment as he stepped onto the runway 

Mbappe gave a slight grimace as he Ousmane Dembele and Hugo Lloris stepped onto the team bus

Mbappe gave a slight grimace as he Ousmane Dembele and Hugo Lloris stepped onto the team bus

France players' family members also stepped off the plane in front of the waiting French press

France players’ family members also stepped off the plane in front of the waiting French press

Mbappe was sat on the team bus as the players headed to a reception at Paris' Place de la Concorde

Mbappe was sat on the team bus as the players headed to a reception at Paris’ Place de la Concorde

Hugo Lloris, who failed to save a single Argentina penalty in the shootout, led the team towards their waiting transport to take them on alongside Deschamps. 

Airport staff lined the runway as the players emerged down the steps of the plane. Despite many of the squad having been involved four years ago for their triumph in Russia, there appeared a significant number of glum faces as the reality of their defeat appeared to strike home. 

Their arrival home coincides with criticism of France president Emmanuel Macron for his rather persistent approach to consoling the players after Sunday evening’s final. 

Argentina’s players, meanwhile, remained in the air with the team expected to return to Buenos Aires at around 2am GMT. 

A mass of supporters gathered to await their heroes’ return. 

Emmanuel Macron was criticised by some French political pundits for his words in the dressing room after the game

Emmanuel Macron was criticised by some French political pundits for his words in the dressing room after the game

The French press was particularly critical of the centrist politician for the way he tried to console Mbappe while he was sprawled on the turf of the Lusail Stadium.   

As reported by The Times, a political pundit named Matthieu Croissandeau accused the president of ‘going over the top’ in his attempts to be involved and of ‘hubris’.

‘You could say that Emmanuel Macron listened to his heart and that he is a real football fan, which is true. But it is difficult not to see a form of immoderation, what the Greeks called hubris or a type of all-powerfulness. In the Middle Ages, they called it the royal touch,’ he said. 

Macron gave a speech to the players in the dressing room after the defeat, something BFM’s anchor Adeline François said was awkward owing to the players simply just wanting ‘him to go away’.

Meanwhile, with Deschamps’ future up in the air with his contract set to expire, it was reported by L’Equipe that he wishes to negotiate a contract to remain in charge for the next World Cup should he stay.  

Others said that his consoling of the players - particularly Mbappe - was slightly cringeworthy

Others said that his consoling of the players – particularly Mbappe – was slightly cringeworthy

source: dailymail.co.uk