Soccer Champions Return to Chaotic Heroes’ Welcome

West Germany’s World Cup soccer champions returned home to a chaotic heroes’ welcome today.

Hundreds of fans broke through police barricades on the runway at Frankfurt airport as the team, led by retiring Coach Franz Beckenbauer, flew back from Rome after Sunday’s 1-0 victory over defending titleholder Argentina.

Ecstatic supporters mobbed team members and delayed their departure for a civic reception in the city center for nearly three-quarters of an hour.

“It’s incredible--complete strangers are just throwing their arms around me,” striker Juergen Klinsmann said.

Traffic came to a standstill as the team’s 50-car motorcade drove to the official reception. Motorists stopped to cheer and wave, and office workers poured onto the streets.