Elated French fans burst out of bars and into the streets of Montreal on Sunday, dancing and singing as they celebrated their soccer teamB次元官网网址檚 victory over Croatia in the World Cup final.

Scores of soccer fanatics watched the game in bars, parks and living rooms across Canada, rapt as .

In Montreal, home to nearly 57,000 French nationals, a two-storey-tall French flag covered the front of bar lB次元官网网址橞arouf in the Plateau-Mont Royal neighbourhood, where fans waved flags, honked horns and cheered on their team with calls of B次元官网网址淎llez Les Bleus as police tried to keep the elated crowd from spilling onto the street.

The bar was so packed throughout the game that Montrealer Henri Gigandet had to settle for the occasional glimpse of the TV while following the cheers, jeers and groans of the crowd. Still, he said it was worth it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the ambiance, the vivre de joie and everything,B次元官网网址� he said.

Though heB次元官网网址檚 not a French citizen, he said the event meant something to him as a francophone, as he stood on a corner waving a red, white and blue flag meant to symbolize the unity of French speakers across Canada.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 our roots,B次元官网网址� he said.

Initially, the crowd was equally jubilant in Croatian Parish Park in Mississauga, Ont., with some setting off sparklers and red flares as their team scored its first goal a half hour into the game.

But after FanceB次元官网网址檚 third goal, the red-and-white clad fans were less talkative, watching the game in near-silence. By their opponentB次元官网网址檚 fourth goal, several people started to slowly trickle out of the park.

When the game was over and reality began to set in, the quiet turned to tempered celebration.

B次元官网网址淭hank you for second place, thatB次元官网网址檚 a big, big place for us,B次元官网网址� Joe Kozlovicjosip cheered.

And 19-year-old Dario Jezerinac said he and his friends planned to party all day and all night in the park.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to bed,B次元官网网址� he said under the early-afternoon sun.

B次元官网网址�(IB次元官网网址檓) super proud of the boys, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 ask for anything better,B次元官网网址� he added. B次元官网网址滶veryone doubted us but we came to the finals and played out hearts out.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Press

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