French media rejoices

The French have plenty to cheer about

The French media have reacted to the footballing triumph over Italy at Euro 2000 in glorious style.

Words such as "monumental", "historic" and "magic" were all featured heavily on the front pages as the country celebrated its World Cup and European Championship double.

The Sunday paper Journal du Dimanche published a special extra edition immediately after the match dedicated to France's "Fabulous victory".

The sports daily L'Equipe said "the France team has gone down in history" after becoming the first side ever to add the European title to a world crown.

Summit

"Two years ago, after their victory in the World Cup final, the Bleus appeared to have reached their summit," L'Equipe enthused.

"But what they have managed to do in this tournament places them higher in football's historical hierarchy."

France Soir, whose Monday edition was on the Champs Elysees in the early hours as 400,000 revellers gathered to celebrate the victory, said France are "Champions of the universe".

Meanwhile, Liberation's front page carried little more than the word "Bis" (same again) in giant letters and headlined their editorial "Winning culture".

It said the unprecedented success was due to the experience gained by the French players in "the foreign championships, notably Italian and English, where they have acquired a winning culture which they badly lacked".