After surviving a first-half of almost total French domination, lone striker
James McFadden scored a glorious 30-yard drive in the 63rd minute to give
Scotland all three points.
Alex McLeish's side are top of Group B having taken six points from the French
and with two of their last three games at Hampden Park.
Italy moved in to second place with a win in Ukraine but the night belonged to
the Scots, who caused a massive shock in Paris - and one which looked so
unlikely for most of the match.
With only McFadden in attack, and Paul Hartley protecting the back four, it
promised to be a difficult night for McLeish's men - and that is exactly how the
first half panned out.
As expected, the French soon took control, the Scots struggling to get out of
their own half with any real conviction.
The visitors had a couple of early warnings, stopper Stephen McManus doing
well to clear a couple of crosses in to the box, first from Florent Malouda on
the left and then from Franck Ribery, who fired in low from the right.
In the 15th minute, as the pressure on the Scottish defence continued, David
Trezeguet swivelled on a Claude Makelele pass but his left-footed effort from 14
yards went wide of the target.
Soon after, Malouda had a low drive from distance saved quite comfortably by
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Scotland then won a couple of corners in quick succession thanks to McFadden
but France goalkeeper Mickael Landreau was untroubled.
The French, strong if lacking in real flair, soon regained the ascendancy and
a cut-back from left-back Eric Abidal, after playing a one-two with Malouda,
caused a moment of panic.
In the 22nd minute France skipper Patrick Vieira was booked for a foul on
Darren Fletcher in the centre circle.
Fletcher was then shown a yellow card moments later for a foul on Malouda,
ruling him out of the Ukraine game in October.
In the 26th minute Stephen Pearson replaced Fletcher who appeared to have
injured himself in the tackle on the Chelsea midfielder.
Just after the half mark Ribery's goalbound drive from the edge of the box
deflected off Alexander but Makelele's corner was easily gathered by Gordon.
Towards the end of the half Scotland enjoyed a brief spell of possession but
could not make any impact on the French goal although McFadden drew a save from
Landreau after good work on the byline.
When referee Konrad Plautz blew to restart the game there was no surprise when
the Scots filed back and within two minutes Ribery had fired in another effort,
but again the Bayern Munich player's effort was wide.
Despite their domination, the French were almost as impotent as Scotland,
especially with regards their final ball in to Gordon's penalty area.
But in the 55th minute Anelka presented Ribery with the best chance of the
game with a clever dink just inside the Scotland penalty area.
Ribery's left-footed strike from 12 yards was parried by Gordon and the France
midfielder blasted the rebound high over the bar.
Seconds later the Sunderland goalkeeper pulled off another great save, tipping
Anelka's shot from 12 yards over the bar, the Scots again surviving the
resultant corner.
Suddenly the tempo had lifted and Hartley was then rightly booked for scything
down Ribery on the touchline.
Then in the 63rd minute Scotland turned the game on its head with the game's
decisive moment.
The ball broke to McFadden at least 30 yards from goal and, out of the blue,
the Everton striker drove a glorious shot in the top corner.
The Parc des Princes was stunned - apart from the section housing the Tartan
Army.
The French supporters could hardly take in the scoreline as their favourites
pounded the Scottish penalty area in search of the equaliser.
The Scots fans dared to look for another goal, although the drained McFadden
made way for Garry O'Connor with 15 minutes remaining.
The tension during the final moments was almost unbearable for the travelling
hordes but somehow Scotland held on to start a massive party in Paris.
France 0 - 1 Scotland
