More than 150,000 people celebrate Italy's victory over France with a huge party in Rome's Circus Maximus

A fan attaches the Italian flag to an illuminated globe while waiting for his side to return to the team hotel in Duisburg

The team coach struggles to make its way back to the hotel through a sea of delighted Italian supporters

The day's dramatic events take their toll on the younger members of the Italian party as they arrive at their base

Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic the Italian population of Chicago celebrate the win on Harlem Avenue

Italians in London descend on Trafalgar Square to celebrate the successful World Cup campaign in the famous fountains

Italy's captain Fabio Cannavaro holds one last news conference in Germany before flying back home

German fire crews salute Italy's flight as it taxis away from Dusseldorf airport before heading back to Rome

The pilot of the squad's flight waves the Italian tricolor shortly after landing at Rome Military Airport

The Frecce Tricolori provide their own tribute to Italy's triumphant team with a colourful fly past at Pratica di Mare

Cannavaro is the first player to emerge and he relishes the opportunity to lift the World Cup on home soil

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon waves to fans while proudly displaying his World Cup winner's medal

There is chaos in the streets as overjoyed Italians surround the team's bus as it makes its way from the airport

President Giorgio Napolitano holds a reception for the squad at the Presidential Chigi Palace

Prime Minister Romano Prodi and sports minister Giovanna Melandri also attend the event

An estimated 500,000 people line the streets to see the victorious team's open-top bus parade

Maverick defender Marco Materazzi, who played such a pivotal role in the final, holds the trophy aloft

The excitement intensifies and a mammoth crowd now awaits the players at the Circus Maximus

Thousands of Italian flags are waved - the crowd gets even larger as the bus carrying the players gets closer

And Cannavaro gives the crowd what they have waited for and dreamed about - the sight of him parading the World Cup