France show they are a class act

In the city where they batter everything from Mars bars to pizzas, Scotland were given a similar coating last night. The scoreline may say only 2-0 but this flattered Scotland. Overcoming initial lethargy, in the second half France played like world champions and gave the impression that, if necessary, the two goals scored by Sylvain Wiltord and Thierry Henry could have been added to with some ease.

Wiltord's 54th minute strike was the first ever French goal scored on Scottish soil, so at least the reconfigured stadium, being officially inaugurated last night, witnessed a moment of history. Sadly for the Scots it was not their moment. In Arsenal's Thierry Henry France have the centre forward they missed two years ago. Henry's 88th minute effort was his fourth international goal and capped an impressive display. "He justified his role," said the French manager Roger Lemerre of Henry.

Scottish manager Craig Brown would love to have someone like Henry, but knows the difference between a nation's dreams and cold reality. His squad was depleted by injury and "No," was his honest answer to a question about whether Scotland could hope to reach the French standard.

That was true, although that outcome was not suggested by France's subdued first half. They may have paraded the World Cup before kick-off but it did not inspire France. But for Coventry City's Paul Telfer, winning his first cap, the occasion seemed to have an unsettling effect on his balance. With his first touch in the opening seconds, Telfer fell over.

Thankfully for Telfer his composure was regained by the 12th minute when his flighted pass had Marcel Desailly and Lilian Thuram jumping for the ball. The inevitable collision left Hearts' Colin Cameron free in the France box, but he rushed his volley and sliced it wide.

That was about the total of Scotland's attacking prowess in the first half, indeed Ulrich Rame in the France goal did not make a save until 10 minutes from the end.

Without Zinedine Zidane, the French were also blunt. Only the diminutive Ludovic Giuly raised the tempo with his occasional sprinting, and yet it was the Monaco winger who made way for Wiltord at the interval. Youri Djorkaeff, who had a quiet half, was also replaced. The much coveted young Bordeaux midfielder Yohan Micoud came on and France immediately began to look like, and play like, a team.

Eight minutes after half-time, the two combined to give France their lead. Collecting the ball deep, Micoud surged through the Scots and set up Wiltord with a diagonal pass. Twelve yards out Micoud showed the calm Cameron had lacked previously. Neill Sullivan was beaten easily.

It was no surprise that Henry rounded off the night with a clipped finish from the edge of the area following some hesitant defending by Colin Hendry.

Scotland: Sullivan, Ritchie (Pressley 46), Dailly, Hendry, Telfer (Johnston 69), B. Ferguson, Hutchison, Cameron (N. McCann 46), Davidson, Gallacher (Burchill 80), Dodds. Subs Not Used: Anderson, Gould, Naysmith.

France: Rame, Thuram, Desailly, Blanc, Lizarazu, Giuly (Micoud 46), Deschamps (Vieira 60), Petit, Djorkaeff (Wiltord 46), Dugarry (Pires 72), Henry. Subs Not Used: Leboeuf, Letizi, Djetou. Goals: Wiltord 54, Henry 89.

Referee: Rune Pedersen (Norway).