Scotland Under-21..... 0 France Under-21..... 2

A French lesson, maybe, but this examination was always going to be an education for Alex Smith's new breed of Scottish internationalists. A defeat against the world champions' wannabes is certainly no disgrace and, the teacher must have been heartened by the diligent defending from his new pupils, a solid foundation on which to build for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.

Many of those who had formed the backbone of the team that failed to reach the European Championships have been lost to Smith and so his line-up featured five debutants, while the rest had only a smattering of appearances between them.

The new-look strike partnership of Gary Wales and Kenny Miller had dominated the build-up and, indeed, the Hibs front man was watched carefully by new Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness from the stand, but in the main they were spectators as the French demonstrated the superiority of their technical development.

However, despite losing two goals, the new-look defence offered hope for the future. Smith altered the system from flat back four to a central three augmented by two of those in-vogue football accessories, wing backs. The move away from the traditional fashion seemed justified after only 10 minutes, with exponents of the modern art, Peter Canero and Warren Cummings, swaggering upfield to good effect.

Said Smith: ''They were a very good side and that's the standard we have to try to achieve, but our organisation cancelled them out for much of the game, although the wing backs' lack of first-team action showed as they tired.

''I do not think we will play a better side than that during our qualifying campaign, and I'm satisfied by the way we played.''

Cummings, the man who has found refuge at Stamford Bridge after being turned away at the door of his home-town team, Aberdeen, showed his worth early on, striding forward, evading a couple of challenges, before flicking the ball on to Miller, but the striker had insufficient dexterity to cushion the ball upon its descent.

The next Scotland attack was manufactured on the opposite side, much to the delight of those Killie fans present in their team's residence, with Canero, the latest to roll off the Rugby Park conveyor belt, harrying down the flank as if chasing a stuffed hare.

He fed the ball through to Miller but again the youngster could not bring it under his control.

Despite the Scots' early supremacy, the visitors came closest to the opener. Captain Peter Luccin's free-kick from just outside the box disturbed the rigging, but thankfully for Paul Gallacher it struck an advertising board.

In a battle of the gritty and the graceful, it was ironic that the team who had displayed the greater panache should conjure a sitter that would make Peter van Vossen chuckle. Olivier Sorlin spotted team-mate Fabrice Ehret in space at the back post, but his pass was not met with the desired end result, Ehret hooking wide from little more than five yards.

The French began to take a stranglehold, with the nimble feet of Peguy Luyundula causing much of the danger in and around Gallacher's goal but in 6ft 4in. Lee Wilkie, the Scots defence had a beacon of a defender.

The referee blew in the nick of time for the Scots as their opponents from across the Channel looked likely to reap a reward for their superior skills.

The rearguard were relieved to discover Luyundula would not emerge after the interval but any notion that their workload would slacken was dispelled within moments of the restart when Reveillere found substitute Toifilou Maoulida. The No.9 shrugged off the attentions of Stephen Caldwell, but his goalbound shot was blocked by Gallacher, Caldwell recovering in time to charge down the rebound.

The French continued to hold the ascendancy and Maoulida was again denied by some sterling work between the posts.

The inevitable breakthrough came with less than 20 minutes remaining. Again Maoulida was involved, but this time playing the part of provider, his cross converted by Olivier Sorlin to eerie silence in a stadium housing a creditable 4357 crowd.

The visitors put a deeper sheen on a polished performance when Reveillere danced past the defence to drill the ball under the body of Gallacher.

SCOTLAND - Gallacher (Dundee United), Canero (Kilmarnock), Cummings (Chelsea), Wilkie (Dundee), Caldwell (Newcastle United), Jordan (Bristol City), Davidson (Dundee United), Easton (Dundee United), Miller (Hibernian), Severin (Hearts), Wales (Hearts). Substitutes - Langfield (Dundee), Baltacha (St Mirren), Crainey (Celtic), Milne (Hearts), Murray (St Mirren), Notman (Manchester United), Tarrant (Aston Villa).

FRANCE - Landreau, Ehret, Escude, Camara, Mantigou, Luccin, Sorlin, Dalmat, Brechet, Luyundula, Johansen. Substitutes - Reveillere, Maoulida, Sable, Devineau, Riou, Malbranque, Meriem.

Referee - T Ovrebo (Norway).