France vs Scotland. International Match.
Stade Saint-Symphorien.
Sunday 5 June 2016 08:41, UK
Euro 2016 hosts France turned on the style to beat Scotland 3-0 in their final friendly before they kick off the tournament next Friday.
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring on Saturday night with a near-post flick after eight minutes and was celebrating for a second time when he followed in Dimitri Payet's shot to turn home (35).
Laurent Koscielny put France in complete control with their third before half-time (39), heading past Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall from close range.
Gordon Strachan's side struggled to cope with the pace and power of their French opponents, who are among the favourites to win Euro 2016 next month, and failed to test Hugo Lloris.
France face Romania in the tournament's opening match at the Stade de France next Friday, while Scotland turn their attention to qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
Aime Jacquet, the coach who guided France to their last triumph on home soil at the 1998 World Cup, received a standing ovation prior to kick-off and the crowd in Metz was soon on their feet again.
Bacary Sagna escaped down the right and his cross was expertly converted at the near post by Giroud to give Didier Deschamps' side the perfect start.
The Arsenal striker scored his seventh international goal in as many games ten minutes before half-time, reacting quickest to turn in a rebound after Payet's initial shot was saved by Marshall.
Four minutes later France were three goals in front as an unmarked Koscielny made no mistake from point-blank range after Patrice Evra flicked on Payet's corner.
The hosts dominated the first half, registering 11 shots to Scotland's zero and could have gone in at the break further ahead but for several smart saves from Marshall.
Strachan made two changes at the interval and substitutes Charlie Mulgrew and Ikechi Anya combined to set up Steven Fletcher, but the striker failed to guide a difficult header on goal.
The second half became disjointed as both sides made regular substitutions, with Anthony Martial in particular impressive for the hosts.
Paul Pogba came closest to adding a fourth but his free-kick from just outside the Scotland penalty area came back off the post.
Andre-Pierre Gignac and Yohan Cabaye both had late opportunities to add further gloss to the score, while Steven Naismith fired over for the visitors with three minutes to play.
The final chance of the game fell to Antoine Griezmann, but the Atletico Madrid forward headed over Sagna's cross.
