France wiped out Scotland’s early lead with four goals of their own in LilleStar-studded France roared back from a goal down to inflict a heavy friendly defeat on much-changed Scotland.
Buoyed by Euro 2024 qualification two days earlier, the makeshift visitors stunned the World Cup runners-up early on in Lille when Eduardo Camavinga’s inexplicable passback allowed Billy Gilmour to smash in his first senior goal for the national team.
But that moment served as a wake-up call for the French, who levelled just five minutes later when Benjamin Pavard glanced a header in at the far post from an Antoine Griezmann corner.
The Inter Milan defender nodded in a second soon after, this time benefitting from Kylian Mbappe’s devastating burst of pace past Jack Hendry before the Paris St-Germain superstar dinked the ball to Pavard.
Mbappe would add a third before the break, his 43rd France goal in 73 caps, smashing a penalty beyond debutant goalkeeper Liam Kelly after a VAR review judged Liam Cooper to have pulled Olivier Giroud to the deck.
And Kingsley Coman completed the scoring after the interval, thundering in a half volley on the rebound past Zander Clark – also handed his first cap in the second half – after Griezmann’s initial close-range finish came back off the bar.
Reaction & as it happenedGiven the extent of Sunday’s celebrations, the Scots would be forgiven for showing up bleary-eyed just 48 hours later in Lille, but a side featuring eight changes held their own for periods despite the scoreline.
Spells of chasing the ball were often followed with spells of measured possession, especially in the early stages when Gilmour crashed in and also late on when Jacob Brown and Stuart Armstrong came off the bench to force France keeper Mike Maignan into action.
Former Scotland striker Steven Thompson’s instant reaction of “ha-ha” on punditry duty reflected the nation’s disbelief at Gilmour’s opener, but Steve Clarke’s side were soon brought crashing back to earth when Pavard’s quickfire double was followed by Mbappe’s penalty.
Had Ousmane Dembele converted from close range, or Pavard met a ball at the back post to complete an incredible first-half hat-trick, Scotland might have been in for a tougher lesson.
But the French eventually added deserved gloss their victory with substitute Coman’s thumping finish.
Player of the match – Kylian MbappeThe Paris St-Germain star demonstrated again why he is regarded as one of the best players on the planet by scoring, assisting and leading his marker a merry dance throughoutTough lessons will only benefit Scotland – analysisGiven the opposition they were facing, and the changes to the team, it is difficult to be too critical of a Scotland side who have revitalised a nation with a sensational Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
But the question now is: What’s next for this team? Friendlies against England and France, either side of last week’s qualifier against Spain, were set up to test Clarke’s side against the best.
The result has been three straight defeats – Scotland’s worst run since the early days of Clarke in 2019 – but the losses should come as no great shock.
Given the calibre of opposition Clarke’s men will need to get the better of if they are to make a mark in Germany next summer, these experiences should only benefit this team.
What’s next?Scotland return to action next month as they conclude their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with the hope of topping their group.
First up is a trip to Georgia on 16 November before Norway travel to Glasgow three days later.
Line-upsFranceFormation 4-2-3-1
16Maignan
3Clauss2Pavard13Konaté22Hernández
6Camavinga8Tchouaméni
11Dembélé7Griezmann10Mbappé
9Giroud
16Maignan3Clauss2Pavard13KonatéSubstituted forLukebaat 87’minutes22Hernández6Camavinga8TchouaméniSubstituted forKamaraat 76’minutes11DembéléSubstituted forComanat 64’minutes7GriezmannSubstituted forFofanaat 76’minutes10MbappéSubstituted forKolo Muaniat 87’minutes9GiroudSubstituted forThuramat 64’minutesSubstitutes1Samba4Gusto5Lukeba12Kolo Muani14Rabiot15Thuram17Todibo18Fofana19Kamara20Coman21Hernández23AreolaScotlandFormation 5-4-1
12Kelly
22Patterson13Hendry6Cooper16McKenna20Taylor
19Ferguson4McTominay14Gilmour23McLean
10Adams
12KellySubstituted forClarkat 45’minutes22PattersonBooked at 36minsSubstituted forMcGinnat 89’minutes13Hendry6CooperBooked at 40minsSubstituted forSouttarat 64’minutes16McKenna20TaylorBooked at 84mins19Ferguson4McTominay14GilmourSubstituted forS Armstrongat 76’minutes23McLeanSubstituted forChristieat 77’minutes10AdamsSubstituted forBrownat 65’minutesSubstitutes1Gunn5Souttar7McGinn8McGregor9Dykes11Christie15Porteous17S Armstrong18Brown21Clark24JohnstonLive TextMatch ends, France 4, Scotland 1.
Second Half ends, France 4, Scotland 1.
Jonathan Clauss (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lewis Ferguson (Scotland).
Offside, France. Youssouf Fofana tries a through ball, but Marcus Thuram is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Youssouf Fofana (France) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Benjamin Pavard (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by John McGinn (Scotland).
Substitution, Scotland. John McGinn replaces Nathan Patterson.
Foul by Eduardo Camavinga (France).
Scott McTominay (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Randal Kolo Muani (France).
Scott McKenna (Scotland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, France. Castello Lukeba replaces Ibrahima Konaté.
Substitution, France. Randal Kolo Muani replaces Kylian Mbappé.
Théo Hernández (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ryan Christie (Scotland).
Attempt saved. Jacob Brown (Scotland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Taylor with a cross.
Attempt saved. Stuart Armstrong (Scotland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.
Greg Taylor (Scotland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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