Fulham French International striker Steve Marlet starred in his country's
destruction of Scotland.
He returned to international duty, after breaking his leg back in September,
in the 58th minute when he came on for Wiltord of Arsenal.
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Fulham French International Steve Marlet
scores for his country |
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Steve will be very happy on his return to Craven Cottage as he was able
to score in the 87th minute, a cracking volley into the roof of the net.
Obviously he and all the fans down at Fulham will be hoping that it is enough
for him to get selected for the French World cup squad.
France 5 Scotland 0
Berti Vogts' reign as Scotland manager began with a thumping defeat in the
Stade de France at the merciless hands of the world and European champions.
His new charges started the match by shipping goals at regular intervals
to go in at the break four behind.
That was how it stayed until substitute Steve Marlet netted near the
end after the French had been busy passing up opportunities that had been
flying into the net before half-time.
Of course, the gulf in class between the two nations was always likely
to produce such a scoreline but the French had underlined their superiority
with the quality as well as the quantity of those strikes.
Zinedine Zidane had supplied the first in only the 12th minute with a
thumping drive that gave Neil Sullivan in the Scotland goal little chance.
The opportunity had arisen because of imprecision in the Scots' defence
however, first through Colin Cameron finding only Patrick Vieira with
an attempted clearance and then skipper Paul Lambert failing to cut out
the Arsenal man's supply ball to Zidane on the edge of the area.
There was an element of bad fortune about David Trezeguet's second in
the 23rd minute as David Weir had done well to challenge Zidane on the
edge of the box.
But the ball bounced off Bixente Lizerazu, who had been arriving at the
scene at speed and he was then able to continue unimpeded down the left
to supply a cross on to the head of the Juventus striker.
The third also saw Lambert play the fall guy as he lost his footing at
the crucial moment that Sylvain Wiltord crossed from the right.
The ball continued on its way to Thierry Henry on the edge of the area
and he lashed it ferociously past Sullivan.
The fourth was a quality finish to an excellent move and once again Trezeguet
was the man on the scoresheet.
Vieira was both architect and engine driver, trading passes with colleagues
to move upfield at a pace that his trackers could not match.
His cross found Trezeguet in front of his marker and a good first touch
was followed by a top-drawer steering of the ball past the goalkeeper.
Scotland had been handed a masterclass in finishing yet the Vogts era
had almost begun with a slice of good fortune.
Fabien Barthez had little to do all evening but the game was still in
its first minute when he almost added an international disaster to his
collection of Old Trafford clangers.
Franck Leboeuf sent a routine pass back but the ball bobbled just as
Barthez was about to hoof clear and the goalkeeper was the most relieved
man on the pitch when he saw it bounce past his far post.
The Scots had only a wide Stephen Crawford shot plus a wayward Lambert
free-kick to show for their first-half efforts.
Leboeuf almost added a fifth not long after the restart but headed a Zidane
cross over the bar.
The French had taken the foot off the pedal by this stage, although Zidane
was continuing to delight with his supreme skills both on the run and in
the pass.
He supplied a free-kick from the left that just evaded Marlet at the
near post and Silvestre at the far.
Zidane was replaced by Bolton's Youri Djorkaeff, who proceeded to blaze
a good chance over the bar.
Marlet's clincher near the end was well taken , a powerful drive from
outside the area after fellow replacement Eric Carriere had played the
ball back to him after Caldwell had halted his own run into the box.
The second half had been a damage limitation exercise for the Scots and
that was at least achieved, even it led to a dearth of activity at the
French end.
France: Barthez, Candela (Karembeu 58), Leboeuf (Christanval 64),
Desailly (Silvestre 45), Lizarazu, Vieira (Makelele 45), Petit, Zidane
(Djorkaeff 81), Wiltord (Marlet 58), Henry, Trezeguet (Carriere 74).
Subs Not Used: Rame.
Booked: Lizarazu.
Goals: Zidane 12, Trezeguet 23, Henry 32, Trezeguet 42, Marlet 87.
Scotland: Sullivan, Weir, Dailly, Caldwell, Crainey, Matteo, Cameron
(Holt 45), Lambert, McCann, Freedman (Gemmill 45), Crawford (Thompson
64), Holt (McNamara 74).
Subs Not Used: Douglas, McNaughton, Kenny Miller, Hughes, Paul Gallacher,
Ross.
Att: 80,000 Ref: J Granat (Poland).