McFadden’s booming effort lands Scotland to the top of Group B table to gaze down at the lesser footballing lights of France, Italy and Ukraine. The win was Scotland’s first on French soil in 57 years that left the home team and last year World Cup runners-up, badly shaken ahead of the final three games. The Scotts now inch a further closer to the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year.
France appeared threatening the first half and threw everything at the Scots but could not find a way past goalkeeper Craig Gordon. It was a second half wonder strike of James McFadden, in fact the decider that released the pressure off the Scotts to seal the country’s most incredible result in living memory. The goal stung the French into further attacks, but the Scots’ defense held firm. Seconds later as the final whistle blew, the fans who helped the visitors create a home atmosphere were in ecstasy.
Credit too, goes to the Scotland manager Alex McLeish, to exploit the teams strengths, with fortune on his side. Now the question arises can the team build on it to qualify as they still have to play Ukraine, Georgia and Italy.
Via: BBC
