Scotland 0 France 2

Scotland 0 France 2

Scotland: Sullivan, Ritchie, Dailly, Hendry, Telfer, B. Ferguson, Hutchison, Cameron, Davidson, Gallacher, Dodds.
Subs: Anderson, Gould, Pressley, Naysmith, Johnston, Burchill, N. McCann.

France: Rame, Thuram, Desailly, Blanc, Lizarazu, Giuly, Deschamps, Petit, Djorkaeff, Dugarry, Henry.
Subs: Vieira, Pires, Wiltord, Leboeuf, Micoud, Letizi, Djetou

SCOTLAND defied France's household names at Hampden Park for long periods only for the formal reopening of their rebuilt home to be spoiled by a destructive late flurry. World champions France had never scored on Scottish soil in three previous visits, but while they were frustrated before the break, Sylvain Wiltord broke that record after 53 minutes.

Scotland held firm thereafter until the 89th minute when Thierry Henry confirmed French superiority, but in truth it was a night both countries will deem a success. With his resources at breaking point, Scotland manager Craig Brown must have quietly feared the worst for all his upbeat talk going into what had the makings of a one-sided affair. 'Remember Argentina' had been Brown's message pre-match. Not the miserable 1978 World Cup but the friendly victory over the then world champs at this venue in its 1990 guise.

The Scots of course only defeated England at Wembley a year after they claimed the 1966 World Cup, but history was not to repeat itself at the official rebirth of the national stadium. Ahead of kick-off, Kenny Dalglish headed an array of former Scottish internationals from the 'Hall of Fame', the qualification for which is 50 caps, a tally not reached by any of tonight's squad. That only highlighted the gulf in experience between the two sides, but to the Scots' credit they kept to Brown's pledge of no inferiority complex with an assured display. It might be argued after the restart France upped the gear they needed to for victory in this friendly, but over the 90 minutes they were rarely in sole command.

Coventry's Paul Telfer was offered an immediate debut after being drafted in at late notice to cover the loss through injury on the right-hand side of midfield of Craig Burley and Jackie McNamara. Colin Cameron of Hearts was awarded his first international start in a makeshift line-up missing the likes of Paul Lambert, Tom Boyd, Matt Elliott and David Weir from Brown's preferred options.

For France, Arsenal's Henry played his first international since September 1998 and was joined up front by debutant Ludovic Giuly, a 23-year-old striker with Monaco. Despite the loss of Zinedine Zidane through injury the French had six of the side who lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1998, though after just two minutes the Scots had the ball in the net. Don Hutchison's flick reached Kevin Gallacher but in finding a way past Laurent Blanc the Newcastle forward clearly handled the ball and his effort was ruled out by referee Rune Pedersen.

Telfer looked nervy from the outset and was found wanting on eight minutes when Blanc's crossfield ball was allowed to bounce and Christophe Dugarry pounced, Neil Sullivan saving with his legs. Scotland had an opening themselves, however, moments later, Telfer's searching long pass confusing Marcel Desailly allowing Cameron a clear hit at goal only for snatched volley to drift wide.

It was a confident start by Scotland, typified by a much better struck volley from an unlikely source as Colin Hendry dazed Dugarry who blocked his fierce shot almost unwittingly. Dugarry recovered and created an opportunity at the other end for Henry, but the resulting header was weak and Sullivan was on hand to gather the ball with
relative ease on 25 minutes. As anticipated Scotland were defending in numbers when they needed to, but there was an unexpected composure about their play and a sureness of touch which was slowing the visitors' momentum.

Brown made a surprise double switch at the break replacing Paul Ritchie with Steven Pressley and bringing on Neil McCann instead of Cameron who had been wasteful before the break. The French did likewise, Sylvain Wiltord and Yohan Micoud joining the fray for Youri Djorkaeff and Giuly who had struggled to make an impact ahead of the interval.

Wiltord seized on a Hutchison error after 50 minutes and forced Sullivan into a low save to his left, while fellow substitute Micoud curled a 20-yard shot wide to announce his arrival. They combined to more damaging effect three minutes later when Micoud threaded the ball through to Wiltord who had spun away from Pressley and he fired low past Sullivan for 1-0.

On 57 minutes, France replaced one Premiership talent with another as Chelsea's Didier Deschamps gave way for Arsenal's Patrick Vieira as suddenly Scotland's relaxed air evaporated. Sullivan needed to be alert on 65 minutes when the impressive Emmanuel Petit looked to release his Arsenal colleague Henry, but it was the Wimbledon man who got there first. The Scots had Callum Davidson to thank after 67 minutes when a Petit corner picked out Vieira whose firm header was heading goalwards until the Blackburn wing-back hacked it off the line.

To add an attacking dimension Scotland introduced Allan Johnston for Telfer, but still there was defensive work to be done as Vieira miscued a shot wide when well-placed. Robert Pires became the next French substitute to make an impact laying off Bixente Lizarazu's cross for the luckless Henry to volley just wide from point-blank range.

Brown's final attempt to salvage something from the contest saw Celtic youngster Mark Burchill on for the last 10 minutes with the hard-working Billy Dodds offered a rest. Yet it was the French who struck to complete the job, Colin Hendry failing to clear properly from Vieira and Henry following up to net with a well-placed side-foot from the edge of the area.