France 4-1 Scotland: Benjamin Pavard nets unlikely double as World Cup finalists prove too strong for high-flying Scots

A Benjamin Pavard brace helped France come from behind to earn a 4-1 victory over Scotland, although it did little to spoil the Tartan Army’s party after they booked their place at UEFA Euro 2024 at the weekend.

The visitors struggled to make much of an impression on the game in an attacking sense, but did take the lead when Billy Gilmour beautifully curled past Mike Maignan.

Unfortunately, their advantage lasted only five minutes, with Pavard nodding home the equaliser and then meeting Kylian Mbappe’s cross to make it 2-1 shortly afterwards.

The forward would get himself on the scoresheet before the break, converting from the penalty spot after Liam Cooper’s foul on Olivier Giroud.

The second half was a much quieter affair, more befitting of the friendly occasion, but France still managed to make it 4-1 when substitute Kingsley Coman netted from inside the box.

That meant the likes of John McGinn and Ryan Christie had to settle for a place on the bench, while Andy Robertson was unavailable due to an injury picked up in Seville.

Those who came into the side had a tough assignment, with Mbappe in particular not giving Nathan Patterson a moment’s rest, but there’s no doubt that those who missed out in Lille will be back in the side when the competitive action returns.

The defender had netted just three times in his previous 51 internationals before taking to the field at Stade Pierre Mauroy.

On this evidence, it’s difficult to see why, with his clinical touch in front of goal helping France come from behind.

Granted, he had Kylian Mbappe to thank for some excellent assists, but the Inter Milan man still showed a striker’s instinct to be in the right place at the right time.

France: Maignan 6, Clauss 6, Pavard 8, Konate 6, T Hernandez 7, Camavinga 6, Tchouameni 7, Griezmann 6, Dembele 6, Mbappe 8, Giroud 6. Subs: Thuram 6, Coman 7, Fofana n/a, Kamara n/a, Kolo Muani n/a, Lukeba n/a

Scotland: Kelly 6, Patterson 7, Hendry 6, McKenna 6, Cooper 6, Taylor, Gilmour 7, McLean 6, McTominay 7, Ferguson 6, Adams 6. Subs: Clark 6, Souttar 6, Brown 7, Armstrong 7, Christie 6, McGinn n/a

11’ GOAL! FRANCE 0-1 SCOTLAND (Billy Gilmour). Wow! Out of nowhere, Billy Gilmour scores his first EVER senior goal. He tried to pull the ball back towards the penalty spot, where it’s met by Camavinga, who criminally passes it straight back to the midfielder. He, in turn, sends a clinical first-time shot into the far post. Magnificent!

16’ GOAL! FRANCE 1-1 SCOTLAND (Benjamin Pavard). That didn’t last long. Pavard equalises as he flicks on a corner at the near post, with the ball skimming off his head and clipping the woodwork on the way into the back of the net.

24’ GOAL! FRANCE 2-1 SCOTLAND (Benjamin Pavard). He’s done it again! Terrific play by Mbappe down the left, showing a stunning turn of pace before whipping the cross into the six-yard box, from where Pavard ducks to head home his second of the night.

41’ GOAL! FRANCE 3-1 SCOTLAND (Kylian Mbappe). VAR asks the referee to look at the replay after Giroud is wrestled to the ground by Cooper when defending a free-kick. He awards a penalty, which Mbappe powerfully converts.

70’ GOAL! FRANCE 4-1 SCOTLAND (Kingsley Coman). Griezmann hits the bar as he dives in to meet Thuram’s cross, but the rebound falls kindly for Coman, who emphatically smashes home.

80’ THURAM RATTLES THE WOODWORK. The substitute meets a through ball and slams against the bar. The ‘keeper was well beaten.

• Les Bleus register their seventh successive win on home soil
• Scotland still haven’t beaten France in a friendly since 1951