The worst trouble was on the Champs Elysee in the early hours as lines of officers used tear gas to restore order
FRANCE fans clashed with riot cops in Paris last night with tear gas and missiles flying as World Cup victory celebrations turn ugly.
The worst trouble was on the capital's Champs Elysee in the early hours as lines of officers used tear gas to restore order.
As a massive crowd celebrated Les Bleus beating Belgium 1-0 in St-Petersburg, Russia, stones were thrown at police, and cars vandalised.
One witness, who was forced out of the area just before 1am by riot officers, said: “There were also attempts to set fire to wheelie bins.
“They held back for as long as they could, but as the crowd got more rowdy, long lines of CRS (riot officers) moved in.
“There were hundreds of them waiting in side streets for any sign of problems.”
Pictures and video posted on social media including YouTube showed some of the mob hurling missiles.
In other parts of France, revellers jumped on to cars – including ones being driven – and stripped naked in civic fountains, including one in Lyon.
Fireworks and flares were let off everywhere, as crowds chanted “We’re in the final, we’re in the final”.
There were also cries of “Umtiti for President,” in reference to Samuel Umtiti, the France defender who scored the winning goal.
Meanwhile President Emmanuel Macron jumped for joy and thousands of fans flooded the streets of Paris.
Ex-Baywatch star Pamela Anderson was also in the stadium to cheer on Les Bleus to victory.
Flares were let off outside iconic monuments like the Arc de Triomphe and along the Champs Elysees while waving the tricolors flags on the streets of the French capital.
Supporters will be desperate for Didier Deschamps' side to go one better than they did two years ago when they were denied victory in the Euros on home soil by Portugal in the Stade de France final.
Much of the squad that played that night were in action during that showpiece match, but absent was the towering centre-back Raphael Varane, who was injured for Euro 2016.
The Real Madrid man was magnificent in St Petersburg though, the rock at the heart of defence and Belgium rarely threatened Hugo Lloris' goal.
Ever since Zinedine Zidane and company marched to victory in their home World Cup in 1998, the French have experienced big football nights on a regular basis.
They beat Brazil 3-0 in the famous final two decades ago, before going on to win the Euros two years later.
Zidane was again the star in 2006, but managed to end his football career in acrimonious fashion as he headbutted Marco Materazzi, bowing out of a dazzling football career in a red mist.
As for Belgium, there will be big questions about why they never really got into the game against a resilient France side.
Brussels police were forced to disperse crowds in the Belgian capital with riot police after flares were thrown following Roberto Martinez's side's defeat.
The cops walked in a line across the boulevards of Brussels as photos showed that most residents simply went home after their lacklustre exit.
As for England, they will hope to be the side that meets France in the final when they take on Croatia tonight.
Gareth Southgate's side are largely the unknown quantity left in the competition following their march to the last four.
England have infamously underperformed in major tournaments since Sir Bobby Robson's side made the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990.
But this year they have looked together, determined and like there is simply no pressure, and Southgate will look to take that into the Croatia clash.
As for London, the UK metropolis will no doubt do its utmost to make sure it upstages Paris as the party capital of the world... away from Russia.
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