In pictures: France gives World Cup champions heroes' welcome

The World Cup-winning French team returned home to a heroes' welcome on Monday, parading down the Champs-Elysees as hundreds of thousands of cheering fans gave a raucous welcome to the country's newest idols.

"Les Bleus", a dynamic, young team that won an open, fast-paced final 4-2 with Croatia in Moscow, appeared at the Elysee palace, where they burst into a spontaneous rendition of the "La Marseillaise" national anthem

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron pose with France soccer team captain Hugo Lloris holding the trophy, coach Didier Deschamps and players before a reception to honour the France soccer team at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

The victory has helped foster a sense of national unity, with commentators playing up the fact the squad, the second-youngest in the competition, includes many with central and north African heritage, even if all but two were born in France.

Commentators have also focused on the outpouring of patriotism and sense of national unity created by the multi-ethnic French team, many of whose stars including Pogba and Mbappe hail from deprived and often overlooked suburbs of Paris.

Brigitte Macron, the wife of French President Emmanuel Macron, and player Paul Pogba hold the trophy before a reception to honour the France soccer team after their victory in the 2018 Russia Soccer World Cup, at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

Macron has already promised the Legion of Honour for the victors' "exceptional services" to the country, an award given to the legendary team that won France's first World Cup title in 1998.

"Thank you for having made us proud," Macron told the players in the presidential palace's gardens. "Never forget where you come from: all the clubs across France that trained you."

More than 300,000 people filled the Champs Elysees, the area around the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde on Sunday night, partying into the early hours, singing the Marseillaise, setting off firecrackers and blaring horns until the sun rose.

The Patrouille de France jets perform as they trail smoke in the colours of the French national flag while flying over the Champs Elysee avenue as supporters welcome players of the French national football team after they won the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match.

"We had so much fun last night, the city was full of joy, so much celebration," a woman dressed in red, white and blue who had made her way out to Charles de Gaulle airport told BFM TV.

"All we want is a wave from the players."

Croatia achieved their best-ever result in the tournament in losing Sunday's match to France, surpassing the third place finish of 1998.

"They lost the final, but won the world," was how daily newspaper Jutarnji List summed up the mood.