Updated 12.05pm.

A huge crowd of supporters welcomed the Argentina World Cup winning team back home on Tuesday.

The aircraft transporting World Cup winners and their captain Lionel Messi back from Qatar arrived at the Ezeiza international airport in Buenos Aires at 2:40 am (0540 GMT) on Tuesday.

Messi, who scored twice in the final, was the first player to emerge from the plane, holding the World Cup aloft with coach Lionel Scaloni right behind him.

Messi carries the World Cup to its new home in Argentina. Video: AFP

Having beaten France in Sunday's thrilling final, the players spent the night at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex near the airport, where thousands of supporters were waiting to greet them as they arrived on an open top bus.

The team bus crawls through the huge crowd of supporters.The team bus crawls through the huge crowd of supporters.

They are also to tour Buenos Aires city centre.

Read the full story on sportsdesk.com.mt

France team given jubilant welcome

The French team arrived in Paris late on Monday.  

Supporters packed the Place de la Concorde to give the players a rousing welcome despite their loss to Argentina. 

The players appeared on the balcony of the Crillon Hotel overlooking the square for enthusiastic welcome, AFP correspondents said.

Read the full story on www.sportsdesk.com.mt

 

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