Violence erupted on the streets as armed police used tear gas on football fans following France's loss in the World Cup final.
Fireworks exploded in Paris, Lyon and Nice and flares were lit as fans reeled from the penalty shoot-out defeat against Argentina.
Armed officers were seen striking fans with batons with around 14,000 police officers deployed across the country before the game began.
Dejected but still proud of France's World Cup team, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Argentina for their win in Sunday's final.
The freezing streets of major cities including Paris were turned into seas of discarded blue-red-and-white confetti as chants of 'allez les bleus' and renditions of La Marseillaise national anthem came to a dramatic halt.
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There were only around 6,000 France supporters watching the game this time around in Qatar, but millions were packed into bars and cafés back home.
Some 2,000 police, including riot control units supported by water cannon and armoured cars, were on duty in Paris.
It followed France coming back from 2-0 down, reaching 3-3 after extra time, but collapsing in the penalty shoot-out, to lose 4-2.
"We are all devastated – that was the best World Cup final ever, but our penalties were not good enough," said Eléa Avel, who has been supporting her national side since the early 1980s.
"We lost our nerve – and perhaps were not as fit as we should have been," said the 53-year-old, as she wore a dark blue cockerel hat and France flag over her shoulders close to the Louvre museum, in central Paris.
There had been reports of a virus in the France camp in Qatar, with players complaining of flu-like symptoms, and being sapped of energy.
Ms Avel said: "This is no excuse, but the health of the players was clearly an issue. I remember our first World Cup win in 1998, then again in Russia in 2018, and now we are no longer World Champions. It is a terrible feeling."
There were only around 6,000 France supporters watching the game this time around in Qatar, but millions were packed into bars and cafés back home.
They included those watching on TV around Argentine, the stop on the Line 1 of the Paris Metro underground train system which had been renamed France for the day.
Those in Doha included President Emmanuel Macron, who could be seen punching the air every time France scored, but then looking dejected out on the pitch.
After he reassured Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick but who was still on the losing side, the France forward just walked away, looking glum faced.
"He’s rightly down, and so are we," said Gilles Durand, 42, who watched the epic clash in the Frog & Rosbif pub in Paris.
"It was jammed packed, but nobody was worrying about that," said Mr Duran. "There is so much emotion. This brings us altogether as a nation, no matter what the score. I love football!"
Like so many of the crowds building up around the capital, Mr Duran had entered to travel to the Champs Élysées – the grand avenue traditionally used by the French to celebrate their World Cup wins, but then cancelled his journey.
Some 2,000 police, including riot control units supported by water cannon and armoured cars, were on duty.
By 7pm, there had been around five arrests for public order offences, including letting off fireworks.
Beyond Allez les Bleus and La Marseillaise. other favourite songs blaring out of portable sound systems included I Will Survive, Bring the Cup Home, and the Eurodance hit, Freed from Desire.
Amira Bennani, 34, who was out watching the game with her two young children said: "It is an incredible night for all of us, but we have had enough. We are no longer World Champions, so congratulations to Argentina!"
A 14-year-old Paris schoolboy who asked to be referred to as Jean said: "The first World Cup I enjoyed properly was France winning in Russia, and now we lose in Qatar. I am so unhappy, and so is the whole of France.
"At least we were in the final. The team finally woke up at the end of the game, but it was not enough."
