Ni the bad weather or the defeat against Argentina did not get the better of the popular fervor around the Blues. Some 50,000 supporters – according to figures from the prefecture – gathered in the Place de la Concorde, in Paris, to welcome the players of the French team on their return from Qatar. A compact and happy crowd despite the defeat, which waited for its players for many hours to the sound of the Marseillaise, Gala and other supporters’ songs.
Some had even perched on lampposts or traffic lights, to try to see the Blues if only by a hair. And the children, the luckiest, had found a perfect place on the shoulders of their parents.
Didier Deschamps and Hugo Lloris finally appeared on the balcony of the Hôtel du Crillon at 9.38 p.m., after crossing Paris to cheers. The players then gradually joined them under the “Thank you Blues” from the public. But despite the enthusiasm of the public, the smoke bombs and fireworks, the faces of the Blues remained closed. Only Antoine Griezmann’s smile warmed the heart.
After about ten minutes, the Blues finally launched a “clapping” with their audience and displayed much more smiling faces. An atmosphere of fervor that almost made you forget, for a moment, the defeat of the day before.
” It is heartwarming “
A few minutes after this walkabout, Olivier Giroud, spoke at the microphone of TF1: “These moments, you have to live them as if they were the last, savor, enjoy… It’s just happiness all the same. We’re going to give each other a big hug and go enjoy our holidays, recharge the batteries because there’s a second part of the season to play. But in any case, it always hurts my heart to leave the guys we spent with, all together, united like a family, so many days… Almost a month and a half. We are like a family, like brothers and I hope that will continue, ”said the striker.
“Frankly, it’s magnificent, it warms the heart, it’s a great pleasure to see that we have been able to make so many French people proud and happy, so it’s only happiness, for his part reacted Marcus Thuram. We wanted to see them on our return from Doha because I think it’s the minimum thing to come and see them and thank them for their support. We knew before the match that we were going to be watched by millions of French people, unfortunately, we couldn’t win, but what is certain is that they are proud of us and that’s the most important . »
Hugo Lloris also welcomed the support of supporters, at the microphone of TF1. “I think the most important thing is recognition, even if, as an athlete, we would have liked to bring back a gold medal, especially to bring this cup back again to France. It’s disappointing, but it’s nice to see so many people this evening, ”he said, face closed, visibly marked by the defeat of his team.
“Vibrating together is something unique”, also underlined Adrien Rabiot. ” It’s nice. We know that we were pushed, that we were supported a lot in France, everywhere on the territory. To be able to come to communion even if there is no final victory, to be able to say thank you, to congratulate them also because they pushed us well and to be able to vibrate together, that is something unique. We realize the extent that this has taken in France. We were far away, we didn’t necessarily feel all that up close and there, we can measure what has been done. It’s wonderful that people are here to welcome us […] It’s not summer and we didn’t win, but all these people have been out there in the cold for several hours, so it’s really nice of them to come. We hope that in four years (at the 2026 World Cup), it will be better, but in any case, we really vibrated, it’s a great adventure and thanks to them for the support. »
