President Emmanuel Macron celebrates with the victorious French side. Photo by AFP/Lionel Bonaventure.

They were parading down the Champs-Elysees as hundreds of thousands of cheering fans gave a raucous welcome to the country's newest idols.

After overcoming a determined Croatia to win 4-2 in Sunday's final in Russia, the team came back to euphoric crowds in Paris hoping to catch a glimpse of the players that have captured the nation's imagination.

The footballers did not disappoint, passing the golden World Cup trophy from player to player as they jumped and danced on an open-air bus with "World Champions" emblazoned on its side.

France's team players celebrate with the trophy and greet their fans while parading down the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris, on Monday after winning the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match. Photo by AFP/Eric Feferberg.

"Wow, it was completely crazy! They are too beautiful, France is beautiful!" said Julia Cohen, 28, after seeing players pass by on the Champs-Elysees, the gathering point for all national celebrations.

The parade was under heavy police guard, with 2,000 officers deployed in the capital to ensure the safety of the estimated 300,000 people who turned up.

Above the partying crowds, nine jets from the Patrouille de France, the air force's acrobatic unit, did an honorary flyover trailing blue, white and red smoke.

After leaving the Champs-Elysees, the players changed into custom-made blue suits before being welcomed at the Elysee Palace by President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, who were also decked out in blue for the occasion.

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.

Hundreds of thousands of cheering fans gave a raucous welcome to the country's newest idols. Photo by AFP/Eric Feferberg.

The first couple then posed with the team as they sang the Marseillaise national anthem and waved scarves for a joyous group photo, before heading inside for a private meeting.

"Thanks to you all!" Macron told the team after gathering again outside. "This team is beautiful because you are united!"

Midfielder Paul Pogba, despite his voice nearly failing him, then proved himself a showman off the pitch as well as on by leading the guests in an impromptu celebratory rap punctuated by "Allez les Bleus!"

"It's true, we went on the pitch, and we said, We're going to crush them all!" he said.

Source: VnExpress