Scotland 0 France 2

France took time to get going at Hampden Park tonight but won this friendly 2-0 as Scotland officialy opened their rebuilt national stadium.

Half time substitutions allowed the World Cup winners to overcome a poor record in Scotland.

France have played there four times and not won a match until now and no French player has scored in Scotland until now when Sylvain Wiltord opened the scoring in the 54th minute.

The visitors bided their time and waited for the Scots to tire after an energetic start from the home team. France were able to exploit poor technical play in the Scottish defence when they failed to mark two strikers. The home team had set up a three man defence but the two markers in this formation did not do their job as the spare defender was exposed allowing Wiltord to crisply finish a chance that arrived from a through ball into the centre of goal.

The opening half hour was dominated by the quick tempo of the Scottish play as France made a lazy start that ceded the impetus to their opponents.

Kevin Gallagher scored in the 8th minute but the goal was disallowed by the referee for an earlier hand ball and Colin Cameron was put clean through in the 16th minute but screwed his shot wide across the face of goal.

At that stage of the game Cameron, Barry Ferguson and Don Hutchinson were dominating the midfield and contributing good runs into attacking positions but did not create clear chances for the strikers.

Second half substitute Patrick Viera headed a 74th minute Petit free kick at goal but Callum Davidson cleared the chance off the line.

Scotland responded by adding winger Alan Johnstone to the side and playing two wingers but Thierry Henry almost converted a chance set up by Robert Pires but the Arsenal player slapped a volley just wide from in front of goal.

Thierry Henry sealed the win with a decisive finish in the 86th minute when he drove the ball low and wide of goalkeeper Neil Sullivan with a piece of high class skill.