On the Champs-Elysées, the wait, the joy and the tears for the return of the Blues



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Hundreds of thousands of people gathered to see the players of the France team on Monday, July 16th. – ERIC FEFERBERG / POOL / AFP

Johan, 7, could not contain his tears. Exhausted after several hours waiting for the long-awaited bus, the boy, Antoine Griezmann's jersey on the back, has barely glimpsed the players. Too small despite the arms of his father, too many people. The passage of the patrol aircraft of France, a few seconds later, gives him a momentary smile.

But the excitement was perhaps too great, the waiting too long and the previous night too short. As this little holidaymaker, some spectators have had trouble with the frustration of a parade of the team of France deemed "too fast", "too far".

Place to the families

The image of the bus Slow progress on July 12, 1998, encircled by the crowd, was in everyone's mind on Monday. Twenty years later, it is impossible to reproduce the same pattern. The Champs-Elysées were cut in half by metal barriers placed between the supporters and the road. But the device did not start the euphoria of the day before. Some spectators came specially for the occasion. Cyril, 50, and Sylvain, 46, made the trip on the morning of Le Havre: "We surprised children, we decided to come this morning for breakfast. We may not have another opportunity to celebrate such an event, "says the father.

Terry and Peter, 30 and 35, came from Bayonne to see
the final at Champs-de-Mars on Sunday. They wanted to prolong their stay in Paris: "It's been a long time since we expected this. In 2006, there was the final lost, then in 2010, Knysna .. It was complicated for the team of France, there it feels good to see that ". If the day before the party was marked by some overflows, the mood on Monday was particularly good child and large families.

Where are the Blues?

Aurianne holds his infant, Eden, 14 months in his arms. At his side, his two "grands", 11 years and 7 years, proudly wear the blue jersey. "I wanted to come last night, but their father told me it might be too dangerous. I told myself that this afternoon … (it would be) it would be quieter and that we had to be there for the players ". A few meters further, Estelle is accompanied by her daughter and her nephews aged 12 to 9 years. "It was not planned at all, but the children wanted to come and share this moment. They heard a lot about 98 with their parents so they wanted to live their 98s with them. "

As the hours go by, traffic on the sidewalks becomes more and more difficult. The crowd, particularly dense, invested every square meter to see at best the Blues hoisted on their bus. The trees, lampposts, kiosks and balconies of the buildings are requisitioned by the more adventurous. The others pile up on the benches, press against the barriers, all want their "image". Despite the songs, the countless "clapping" and the communicative joy that spreads along the avenue, a question comes down tirelessly: "Where are the Blues? "

 Failing to have celebrated the victory on the Champs-Elysees Sunday evening, this family wanted to enjoy this day to see the Blues.
Failing to have celebrated the victory on the Champs-Elysees. Sunday night, this family wanted to enjoy this day to see the Blues. – H.Sergent / 20Minutes

"I'm the only one but I'm so happy!

At 19:21, after five hours of waiting for some, the players appear in the smoke halo. The clamor is powerful, the cries uninterrupted. But arms outstretched, smartphone in hand struggling to follow the movement too fast bus. Kahina, 18, tried to run to continue to see the French team and the cup. But the artery is obstructed by too many public

The bachelor , coming from Val-de-Marne with three friends from high school, oscillates: "I have the seum but I am too happy! I managed to see Kylian Mbappé and it was Rami who waved the cup. But it's been hours we're here, it was too short! ". About ten minutes later, the majority of fans have already returned to the adjacent streets. On a bench, Johan, the disappointed schoolboy dries his tears. His father has promised him, he will have his two-star jersey. The wait is also likely to be long …

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