Riots Break Out In France After Les Bleus Lose To Argentina In FIFA World Cup Final

There was chaos on the streets of several French cities after France lost to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022 final.

France's football fans stand past anti-riot policemen on the Avenue Champs Elysees after the final football match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup between Argentina and France, in Paris on December 18, 2022.

Source : ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP

After France's defeat to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Final, riots reportedly erupted in several French cities including Paris. It is being learnt that people were detained for clashing with the police in the capital and policemen in large numbers had to be deployed in large numbers to take control of the situation.

A video shared by the official handle of Nexta TV shows absolute chaos on the streets after thousands of fans came onto the street following France's defeat to Argentina at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Sunday (December 18). Police had to resort to teargas as protestors were even throwing firecrackers at them, reports The Daily Mail. The crowd clashed with the police after the law enforcers were forced to arrest violent fans.

Several videos and images of the incident have gone viral on the internet.

Riots broke out in several French cities tonight after France lost the World Cup final to Argentina.

In Lyon, a woman was attacked as she was trying to drive past the rioters. pic.twitter.com/lWlQLT6z5F

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 19, 2022

#Paris under pepper gas clouds after #Argentina va #France #WorldCupFinal. Riot police in action pic.twitter.com/KaykVSTqAv

— Ozgur Savas (@ozsavas) December 18, 2022

Riots erupt in #France after the defeat of the national team in the final of the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/HH2efgzyRf

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 18, 2022

Heartbreaking loss for France

Talking about the match, it was a heartbreaking defeat for the Les Bleus who came close to winning the title for the second successive time and replicate a 60-year-old feat. Notably, only Italy and Brazil have managed to win back to back World Cup titles with Brazil being the last team to successfully defend its crown in 1962, having won the tournament previously in 1958.

Argentina were dominant in the first 80 minutes of the match but Kylian Mbappe helped France make a remarkable comeback by converting a penalty and then adding a second goal in no time to force the match into extra time. In the extended minutes, it seemed like Lionel Messi has netted a winner for Argentina but it wasn't to be as Mbappe once again found a way to equalise.

Finally, in penalty shootouts, Argentina defeated France 4-2 to clinch their third World Cup title. Emi Martinez saved France's Coman kick in the shootout while Tchouameni's shot went wide, in contrast to the Albiceleste whose every penalty taker converted his goal.