PHOTOS: Macron Fetes France 2018 World Cup Champions

President Emmanuel Macron on Monday welcomed the French national football team after they won the Russia 2018 World Cup final match.

The reception was held at the Elysee Presidential Palace, Paris.

Sunday’s 4-2 win against hard-fighting Croatia was France’s second in the history of the tournament.

France led 2-1 at halftime a Mario Mandzukic own-goal and an Antoine Griezmann VAR-penalty, although Ivan Perisic briefly brought first-time finalists Croatia level.

Both Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe had put France on course for the title, but error on the part of French goal keeper, Hugo Lloris  was what provided opportunity for Mandzukic to retrieve one goal.

France, however, withstood a spirited Croatia assault to lift the trophy for the second time – the first on foreign turf, following their success on home soil 20 years ago – and ensured that there was no repeat of two years ago when they were beaten in the European Championship final by Portugal in Paris.

The victory means that Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 side, becomes the third man to win the World Cup as player and coach after Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.