4802: Scotland Seek More Revenge For

by : Hugh Larkin

It was back in March 2002 when Berti Vogts took his first Scotland selection to the Stade De France. The result that night was a 5-0 hammering which gave warning of what was to come under the German coach. If the Scots need any motivation on Wednesday night when they return to France, just mention that game.

Scotland took some revenge with their 1-0 victory at Hampden last October but the 2002 performance is one that needs some erasing from the memory. Happily, Scotland appear to have a team capable of doing that.

That hammering by a top French team punctured any optimism surrounding the appointment of the new coach. At the time France held both the World and European titles but later that year they flopped at the World Cup in Asia.

‘Les Bleus’ still had more than enough to see off Vogts’ experimental selection though and it wasn’t long before the squad were struggling to overcome nations like the Faroe Islands,. It could have been worse too- France were 4-0 to the good by half time and used seven substitutes in the second period.

Of the team put to the sword in France 5 years ago, only defender David Weir was in the starting line up for the vital win with Lithuania on Saturday- interestingly, Weir was one player who fell out with Vogts during the German’s tenure and only came back to the international fold under Walter Smith.

Gary Caldwell was one of two players given their first cap in Paris by Vogts and he was on the bench for the Lithuania game. The former Newcastle United man now has 25 caps to his name.

Scotland v France 27th March 2002;

Scotland
Sullivan, Weir, Crainey (debut), Lambert, Dailly, Caldwell (debut), Freedman, Matteo, Crawford, Cameron, McCann. Subs used Gemmill, Thompson (debut), Holt Macnamara

France
Barthez, Candela, Leboeuf, Desially, Lizerazu, Vieira, Petit, Zidane, Wiltord, Henry, Trezeguet. Subs used Karembeu, Silvestre, Christanval, Makelele, Djorkjaeff, Marlet Carriere

It’s a very different Scottish side that go to Paris this week- much changed in personnel, attitude and management. They are still in with a real shout of qualification from what appeared to be a real ‘Group of Death’ when it came out of the hat.

While the Scots were dealing with a potentially troublesome Lithuanian outfit, other results in the group were going for them. The two heavyweights- Italy and France- fought out a goalless draw in their repeat of the 2006 World Cup Final and the Ukraine could only draw in Georgia.

Now Italy have to travel to Kiev and it would suit the Scots if the home side could take points off the World Champions. If that happened, a level scoreline in Paris would keep Alex McCleish’s squad at least a point above the Italians.

This is still a tough French side to take on but they are not as frightening as they were back in 2002. Now Scotland are a side that know what their strengths are and have become a very well organised team with a bit of pep up front.

At the start of qualification anyone in Scotland would have accepted taking 3 points out of six against France but now ambitions are much higher north of the border, to the point where a defeat would be reckoned a disappointment.

In the recent past the Scots would have gone to France seeking to keep the score down to respectable levels but with the pride back in the Tartan Army, there’s a decent chance of coming away with a result.

Weir and Caldwell would have special reason to be satisfied with a positive result to bury once and for all what must have been the worst experience of their international careers.