MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 23:02:39| >> :60:1355:1355:
[monks data]
France national football team
International Friendlies
Jun 4, 2016 at 8pm UK
 
Scotland national football team

3-0

Giroud (8', 35'), Koscielny (39')
FT(HT: 3-0)

Olivier Giroud hits brace in France win

Olivier Giroud scores twice as France beat Scotland 3-0 in their final international friendly before Euro 2016 begins on June 10.

Olivier Giroud scored twice as France beat Scotland 3-0 in their last international friendly before Euro 2016.

All three of the home side's goals came in the first period, with Laurent Koscielny also registering for the Blues, who will open their European Championship campaign against Romania in Paris on June 10.

Laurent Koscielny of France (R) celebrates his team's third goal with teammates during the International Friendly between France and Scotland on June 4, 2016 in Metz, France© Getty Images

The first half-chance of the match fell to France inside the first 60 seconds, but Blaise Matuidi's close-range effort was blocked over the crossbar by Grant Hanley, who had been turned inside his own box.

Five minutes later, France again came close after Dimitri Payet picked out Giroud with a smart free kick, but David Marshall was on hand to make a smart save.

The Blues were rewarded for their fast start in the eighth minute, however, when Giroud, whose name was once again booed before kickoff, converted a low Bacary Sagna cross at the near post to continue his impressive scoring run.

Olivier Giroud of France celebrates his team's second goal during the International Friendly between France and Scotland on June 4, 2016 in Metz, France© Getty Images

Scotland just could not get out of their own half as the pressure continued and Marshall was forced to get down low to keep out a powerful drive from the elusive Kingsley Coman in the 18th minute of action.

Gordon Greer had a nervy moment in the 29th minute when he turned a Sagna cross towards his own goal, but the Scot managed to lift the ball over his own crossbar as France continued to search for a second.

Eventually France did have their second in the 35th minute when Giroud bundled home from close range after Marshall had pushed a stinging Payet drive straight into the path of the advancing Arsenal striker.

Didier Deschamps's side then had their third five minutes before the break when Koscielny headed home from close range after a Payet corner had been flicked into the path of the centre-back.

France's defender Laurent Koscielny celebrates his goal during the friendly football match France vs Scotland at the St Symphorien Stadium in Metz, eastern France, on June 4, 2016© AFP

It had been a difficult enough first 45 minutes for Scotland, but it threatened to get worse in the second period as Deschamps introduced attacking pair Anthony Martial and Antoine Griezmann at the break.

Scotland's first real chance came in the 55th minute when Steven Fletcher met a cross from Ikechi Anya, but the Sunderland striker got it all wrong and the ball drifted out of play for a throw-in.

France continued to look the most likely to score the game's next goal, however, and Martial almost squeezed the ball through the legs of Marshall after dancing into the Scotland box on the hour mark.

Paul Pogba then came within a few inches of scoring a fourth for France in the 64th minute when he sent a free kick towards the corner, only to watch the ball smash off the post as Scotland survived another dangerous moment.

Andre-Pierre Gignac and Yohan Cabaye also came close for France after coming off the bench, but Marshall was on hand to make two smart saves in the away side's net and keep the score down to three.

Pogba struck another free kick 10 minutes from time, but the Juventus midfielder, who played the full 90 minutes in the middle of the park, just missed the crossbar, before Cabaye lifted one over from close range.

France continued to search for a fourth goal in the latter stages and came extremely close through a Griezmann header, but the night ended at three against a Scotland team that failed to register a single attempt on target during a disappointing showing in Metz.

ID:274158: cacheID:274158:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7949:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
James Milner celebrates scoring the second during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester City on March 2, 2016
Read Next:
Milner rated fifth best player at Euros
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!