France 5

Scotland were given a masterclass by world champions France as Berti Vogts watched his new charges ripped to shreds in Paris. A strong French side, packed with experience, hardly gave the Scots a touch of the ball and gave the impression they could score any time they felt like it.

They managed five magnificent goals and Scotland looked light years behind their illustrious opponents in every department. Zinedine Zidane scored the first with David Trezeguet grabbing a brace, Thierry Henry was on target and Steve Marlet finished things off.

Scotland were almost gifted a surprise opening goal inside the first minute when French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez took a fresh air swipe at a back pass and the ball trundled inches wide of the post as the home crowd gasped in disbelief. From then on it was all downhill for the Scots.

After a quiet opening, the first glimpse of goal for the home side saw the net bulge. With 12 minutes gone, Colin Cameron made a hash of a clearance and when Viera picked out Zidane, the Real Madrid playmaker thrashed a wonderful shot past Neil Sullivan from 20 yards out. 10 minutes later, the French doubled their advantage when Trezeguet out-jumped the Scots defence to nod a Bixente Lizarazu cross high into the net, with Sullivan losing his footing as he shaped to dive.

Stevie Crawford stole in behind the French defence immediately afterwards but snatched at his shot and the ball bobbled wide. With Zidane running the show, he French were exuding effortless brilliance, with the visitors reduced to chasing shadows.

Arsenal hit-man Henry scored a glorious third goal in the 32 minute when he latched on to a cut back from club mate Sylvain Wiltord and sent a stunning strike on the turn into the top corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area. Five minutes before half time, the Scots were once again carved open with ruthless virtuosity. Viera threaded a pass through four defenders and found Trezeguet, who coolly lofted the ball over the advancing Sullivan from close range.

Gary Holt and Scott Gemmill were introduced at the start of the second period, while the French threw on Mikael Silvestre and Claude Makalele: Norwich City and Everton versus Manchester United and Real Madrid tells its own story. A further rash of substitutions disrupted the flow of the fabulous French, but Roger Lemerre's side continued to purr with an exhibition of poised possession football.

Zidane was full of tricks and full backs Lizarazu and Vincent Candela continued to bomb forward with menace, but the Scots were spared any further embarrassment with the French content to toy with their prey rather than finish them off. However, with just a few minutes remaining, late substitute Marlet gave the 80,000 crowd a bonus with a smart strike which flew high into the net.

France: Barthez, Candela (sub Karembeu 58), Leboeuf (sub Christanval 64), Desailly (sub Silvestre 46), Lizarazu, Vieira (sub Makelele 46), Petit, Zidane (sub Djorkaeff 81), Wiltord (sub Marlet 58), Henry, Trezeguet (sub Carriere 74).

Scotland: Sullivan, Weir, Crainey, Lambert (captain), Dailly, Caldwell, Freedman (sub Gemmill 46), Matteo, Crawford (sub Thompson 63), Cameron (sub Holt 45, sub McNamara 74), McCann.
Unused substitutes: Douglas, McNaughton, Miller, Ross, Hughes, Gallacher.

Scotland manager Berti Vogts refused to be too downhearted after watching his new charges given a hammering in Paris. The world champions ran out impressive 5-0 winners in front of a capacity 80,000 crowd at the Stade de France, with four goals coming in a first half blitz.

The French stepped down a gear or two after the break and Vogts declared he had been pleased by his side's improved display after the restart. "In the first half maybe I was watching the new world champions," said Vogts. "The pressure was too much for my young team. But in the second half we controlled the game. The result was not good for me but good for France. I hope that next month against Nigeria in Aberdeen we play better."

Vogts handed debuts to young defenders Stephen Crainey and Gary Caldwell from the start and sent on striker Steven Thompson in the second half. He said: "It was a great experience for my players and especially for the younger ones." And the German refused to harbour any fears that the margin of the defeat would damage their confidence in the future. He said: "I don't think so. I think we have to look to the second half. We changed the system, bringing on Scot Gemmill and Gary Holt. Gary Holt had muscle problems so Jackie McNamara came on and it was better in midfield. The last goal was not important for me."

Scotland were rarely given a kick of the ball by the inventive French, but Vogts was able to put a positive spin on the problem by arguing that introducing even more younger players would surely improve the team's mobility. He said: "Maybe we can only go the way of the young generation and not picking players who are 35 and over. We have to look to the next game and I am sure we will play better."

Scotland midfielder Gary Holt was taken off by mistake during Wednesday night's 5-0 thrashing by world champions France. And team-mate Rab Douglas has made it clear to manager Berti Vogts that he was not happy at being left on the bench. Holt was only on the Stade de France pitch for 29 minutes as a substitute for Colin Cameron before he was replaced himself. Vogts said after the match that it was because the Norwich City man had picked up a thigh strain. But Holt says he had been trying to tell assistant manager Tommy Burns that it was Dominic Matteo who was injured.

"It was a bit of a misunderstanding to be honest," said Holt, who was replaced by Jackie McNamara. "I've had a slight thigh strain and Dominic Matteo said to me during the game he was struggling with his calf and to tell Tom. So I told him he was struggling and the next thing the board has gone up and they thought I was struggling. It was a misunderstanding, but these things happen and you just have to get on with it. But, at the end of the day, I won't say anything again when someone tells me they're struggling"

Vogts also left Douglas feeling hard done by. The Celtic goalkeeper had initially been reluctant to travel to France as his wife was expecting a baby. Keen to win his first cap, Douglas travelled after the Scottish Football Association put in place special travel arrangements to return him home should she go into labour. But baby Brooke arrived quicker than expected and he missed the birth. He was also left annoyed not to win his first cap. Vogts decided not to replace Neil Sullivan, despite having seven substitutions available. Douglas and Vogts were involved in a long and animated discussion in the departure lounge as the Scotland squad prepared to return for Glasgow.

Celtic colleague and Scotland captain Paul Lambert then also took Douglas aside for a chat. Scotland's unhappy night had continued at Charles de Gaulle Airport, where their flight was delayed by one and a quarter hours by a computer failure that struck Britain's new air traffic control system.