Chants of ``we're in the final, we're in the final, '' echoed all over the city. Car horns blared and smiling people of all ages danced in celebration. Youths rode on the roof and wings of cars, waving tricolour flags after yesterday night's victory.

Honking their horns, cars raced along avenues that had been deserted and abandoned to a few soccer-indifferent roller-skaters during the game which France won 2-1.

``Long live Lilian Thuram,'' youths chanted as they acclaimed France's hero, full-back Thuram who scored both goals.

``Thuram, president'', and ``Jacquet, president'', some shouted, bestowing the top job on previously criticised coach, Aime Jacquet.Onlookers cheered from balconies.

``Release Laurent Blanc'', was another of the chants, protesting against the sending-off of the French defender for pushing defender Slaven Bilic in the face.

``Where are, where are, where are the Brazilians?'' groups chanted defiantly, yelling louder as fans in Brazil's yellow and green colours walked by.

``It's a euphoria taking over France,'' yelled Geraldine Lessieux, 20, as she and hundreds of others ran into a small bar-lined street in Paris' Left Bank. ``Each time France wins it's like a shot from a cannon.'' ``And I don't even like soccer that much.''