France show way forward

SCOTLAND U-21 1
Adam 86 pen

FRANCE U-21 3
Briand 3; Pongolle 16; Gourcouff 84
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ARCHIE Knox, the Scotland U-21 coach, was at pains to point out that if Scotland want to compete at the highest level, then concentrating on the development of training facilities and coaching is paramount. His point had merely been illustrated by the slick and efficient way that the French U-21s disposed of his Scottish side.

Goals from Jimmy Briand, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Yoann Gourcouff put the lid on Scotland's slim hopes of qualification from a tight group of three including themselves, the French and Slovenia. In some ways, the 1-0 defeat away to the Slovenians was the killer blow. A landslide win was needed in Aberdeen but in all honesty, it was something the Scots never looked like achieving. Charlie Adam, perhaps Scotland's most industrious player, converted a late penalty to salvage some pride.

"There's no secret to it all," Knox lamented after the match. "You've got to start with kids, don't you. We are improving, make no mistake, there is a lot of good work being done, with the clubs and their youth set ups, but it's a case of finding a strategy for it all.

"We have kids playing from seven, eight years old before they are really educated about the game. They practise but they aren't taught the basics and the techniques. That's the big difference."

"Lack of facilities is a big part of it," he elaborated. "You can't kick a ball about on the street anymore, so we've got to go and take the lads somewhere else to play. It isn't just about the lack of pitches though. Take Italy for example. Their facilities for kids are no better than ours, but it's what they do with them that makes the difference, how they teach them, just football teaching."

That is something that the French have mastered. In a small village about 70km away from Paris, there is a state-of-the art academy built solely for football. Clairfontaine is where the cream of French football is schooled on the game. Pioneered by Arsene Wenger, it takes in the players with most potential and teaches them not only about football, but about life in general. Five of the French team on Friday night have been part of Clairfontaine, and it showed.

Experience on the international stage is another way of developing players, something that the current bunch of U-21s will not get. The surreal system of a three-team group means that the campaign is now over for the season. But as Knox explains, the future is not as bleak as it looks on paper.

"We have got to expose them to more international football of that sort of standard, and the next team will get a better shot at that. The new team (current U-19s) will get more games, including friendlies. We've hopefully got the Toulon tournament coming up. It's not for definite yet, it is by invite only, but it shows that we are moving up on the international ladder. Competitions like that, added with the experience gained in the championships in Poland, will help us get to the level we want to be at."

Hibernian's Steven Fletcher was the only player on the pitch who can play again in the next campaign, although out of the squad, Motherwell striker Calum Elliot and Celtic defender Scott Cuthbert are eligible too. The next step for players like Scott Brown (Hibs), Steven Smith (Rangers), Steven Naismith (Kilmarnock) and Zander Diamond (Aberdeen) is to force themselves into the full squad.

But if anything, Friday night showed that these players, regarded the cream of the crop by some, have got a long way to go. Diamond was hauled off at half time because Rennes striker Jimmy Briand tore him to shreds. Brown, normally a dominant figure in midfield, was dominated himself by Lassana Diarra and Jeremy Clement. Steven Smith, perhaps Rangers best defender, was taught a harsh lesson by Lyon attacker Karim Benzema, while Steven Naismith got no change out of Ronald Zubar, a younger version of William Gallas.

The match itself turned into a non-event as early as the 16th minute. France were already a goal to the good through Jimmy Briand's third minute strike before Florent Sinama-Pongolle forced home after Ronald Zubar had seen his header clawed away by David Marshall.

Scotland did create a few chances, Craig Beattie hitting the post either side of the interval, but France were still in complete control. Their third goal was a lesson in pace and panache. Jeremy Clement sent the impressive Briand through and as he drew Kirk Broadfoot away from the penalty box, he slipped the ball to Yoann Gourcouff. The AC Milan midfielder belted the ball into the net from twelve yards to add gloss to the scoreline.

Charlie Adam did win himself a penalty four minutes from the end, converting it effortlessly. But in the end, the 12,000 or so who turned up were left feeling deflated at the final whistle. The jury is now out on whether this crop of players can really make it to the top.

Scotland: Marshall; Wilson, Diamond (Hutton 45), Broadfoot, Smith; Brown, Whittaker, Thomson (Wallace 45), Adam, Naismith; Beattie (Fletcher 64).

France: Mandanda (Lloris 45); Ebondo, Bourillon, Zubar, Berthod; Gouffran (Gourcouff 58), Diarra, Clement, Pongolle (Matuidi 83); Benzema, Briand

Referee: Tiziano Pieri (ITA).

Taken from the Scotsman