Scotland have no answer to 'best team in Europe'

Thursday 20 September 2012

A succesful Euro 2013 qualifying campaign for Scotland ended with a reality check as Anna Signeul's side were swamped by a formidable French team.

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Alan Campbell at Tynecastle

The visitors, containing six players from Champions League holders Lyon, fully merited their victory.

"We played the best team in Europe," admitted Signeul. "French football is just brilliant – it's fantastic."

France led by two goals at the interval, and showed there would be no easing off midway through the second period with two more within a minute. Scotland were denied a consolation near the end when Lisa Evans, who would otherwise have scored, was brought down outside the box by French goalkeeper Celine Deville; incredibly, she escaped with a yellow card.

Nevertheless, the French could have scored more goals, and Signeul pointed out: "Technically, we are getting better and better, but physically, we still can't compete with a team like France. "It's not just us, the gap is growing between them and other top European sides."The French wasted no time asserting themselves, and towering central defender Wendie Renard – easily the tallest player on the pitch –headed over from a corner. Before the start there had been a presentation to mark Megan Sneddon's 100th cap in the summer, and the Celtic midfielder's hopeful shot over the bar was to symbolise Scotland's tepid attacking efforts in the opening half.Almost inevitably, the visitors took the lead after 16 minutes. Gemma Fay in the Scotland goal had made a low block from Louisa Necib, but the captain was left exposed when dangerwoman Marie-Laure Delie was sent in behind the defence and side-footed the ball past Fay.With almost no possession, the Scots were guilty of giving what ball they had away cheaply and, after a couple of escapes, a second goal followed after the half hour. A fierce shot by Camille Abily had rebounded back off the bar only for Delie to shoot into the side-netting, but the reprieve was shortlived.It was unfortunate for Fay, who had made a terrific save at full stretch from Sandrine Soubeyrand, turning the ball away for a corner. When the delivery came over, Eugenie Le Sommer headed home.The Scots finished the half much better than they had started it, although shots from Jane Ross and Kim Little carried little conviction.Ten minutes after the interval there was finally something for the home fans to get enthused about. Evans, making her first start in a competitive match since joining Turbine Potsdam, sent in a lobbed shot which hit the bar which Ross inexplicably headed wide.Despite the better start to the second period, two goals midway through the half extended France's superiority. First midfielder Necib, a constant thorn in Scotland's flesh, was allowed to thread through the defence before firing past Fay. Then, a minute later La Sommer got her second, and France's fourth. Necib was only denied a fifth by a goal-line block from Rhonda Jones, but it duly followed when Delie got her second of the night after Rachel Corsie failed to clear and she was put clean through on Fay. By this time most of the home crowd were praying for closure with no further damage. Thanks to a fine double save by Fay and Corsie from Renard the margin remained at five.Then Evans, with only French goalkeeper Deville to beat, was brought down without ceremony. While the keeper escaped with only a caution, substitute Jenny Beattie's fierce free-kick hit the side netting.

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Scotland have no answer to 'best team in Europe'

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