FRANCE..0 SCOTLAND..1
Burke sinks the French for first time since Faddy
IT didn’t have the glamour of the Parc des Princes in Paris – and Oliver Burke’s goal wasn’t as spectacular as the wonder strike from James McFadden.
But in a tiny corner of Salon de Provence last night Scotland recorded another memorable win over France, the first time we have beaten Les Bleus at any level since Faddy’s iconic strike 11 years ago.
Burke’s first-half goal handed Scot Gemmill’s boys a priceless three points in the Toulon Tournament.
It was an assured display from the Scots, who finished the game with two 16-year-olds on the pitch in Billy Gilmour and Chris Hamilton.
They were the better team in the first half and, despite late pressure from France, were well worthy of their win.
Scotland keeper Robby McCrorie had little to do before a stunning save 10 minutes from the end to deny French hitman Wilfried Kanga.
The victory puts Gemmill’s side in command of the group and beating South Korea on Saturday should see them top the group and seal a slot in next week’s semi-finals.
After a 1-1 draw with Togo in their opener, Scotland were left with unenviable task of having to take something off the hosts if they wanted to progress and all eyes were on Gilmour who was making his debut at Under-21 level.
The Chelsea kid, who moved from Rangers last summer, has huge expectations on his young shoulders. But it’s a sign of the faith Gemmill and Malky Mackay have in him that they opted to throw him in against a physical French outfit.
Gilmour is the youngest player at the tournament and was replacing Scott Wright in the line-up, with McCrorie in goal the only other change from the Togo match.
In a positive opening half for the Scots, the 16-year-old impressed in the middle of the park. Without being flashy, his composure on the ball – with both feet – was evident from the off.
Gilmour looks as if nothing will faze him, as he passed with an authority that belied his tender years.
Scotland started well against a side made up of France’s U20 players. On the front foot, with Allan Campbell playing in the unfamiliar role just off frontman Fraser Hornby, Gemmill’s side posed a threat.
In fact Burke should have opened the scoring in 13 minutes. He mugged left-back Thibault Campanini and drove into the box on the right.
The West Brom winger had a clear sight of goal and should have got a shot off – but instead opted for a cutback to Hornby and the chance was lost.
At any level it’s refreshing when Scotland take the game to one of Europe’s top nations and that was certainly the case here. Gemmill’s gameplan was clearly to have a go, with Burke, Hornby, Campbell and Mikey Johnston all playing high up the pitch.
It was a risky strategy, especially with the power of France’s forwards, which included Angers’ battering ram Kanga who was a handful for Scotland’s defence.
But the Scots’ ploy was working and they got a deserved opener before the interval through Burke.
He latched on to a ball after Hornby won a header and rifled a shot beyond Dimitry Bertaud into the corner. It was a terrific goal and a dream finish to the half for the underdogs in dark blue.
The test for Scotland in the second half was not to drop off and sit deeper as the French pursued an equaliser. Naturally, they found themselves defending more as the game wore on but when they opted to play through Gilmour they retained the ball and got out.
McCrorie was untested before he denied Kanga with a super stop, clawing his header wide of the post.
Near the end Jason Kerr gave Gemmill a heartstopping moment when he almost scored an own goal from a sliced clearance.
Scotland were pinned back into their own half as the home side desperately tried to break them down.
But Gemmill’s team showed terrific resilience to hang on, with Greg Taylor in particular outstanding at left-back.
After defeating Brazil at this stage a year ago, this result was of a similar magnitude and Scotland will now look to finish the job against South Korea to reach the last four.