Benjamin Pavard scored twice as France came from behind to beat Scotland 4-1 in a friendly at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Tuesday night.
The Inter Milan defender found the net just three times in his previous 51 international appearances, but he got his name on the scoresheet twice inside the opening 24 minutes against the Tartan Army after Billy Gilmour had given the visitors an early lead with his first-ever senior career goal.
Captain Kylian Mbappe added a third from the penalty spot shortly before half time, before substitute Kingsley Coman sealed the victory with a thunderous strike 20 minutes from time to help France extend their winning run on home soil to five matches.
The two nations entered the contest just a few days after securing qualification for Euro 2024, with France beating the Netherlands 2-1 last Friday and Scotland booking their place at next year's tournament in Germany courtesy of Spain's 1-0 win over Norway on Sunday.
Didier Deschamps made four changes to the France lineup that beat the Dutch, with Pavard, Eduardo Camavinga, Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud all coming into the first XI.
Steve Clarke, meanwhile, made eight changes to the Scotland team that lost 2-0 to Spain last Thursday, with Liam Kelly handed his international debut in goal and the likes of Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson and Greg Taylor were also handed starts, while Scott McTominay wore the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Andrew Robertson.
Kickoff at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy was delayed by 10 minutes due to long queues of supporters at the stadium, while extra security measures were put in place following the terrorist attack that occurred before Monday's Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden in Brussels which was eventually abandoned.
France controlled proceedings early doors but it was Scotland who took the lead inside the opening 11 minutes when Gilmour capitalised on a misplaced pass from Camavinga to slot a curling strike into the far corner from around 10 yards out.
However, the hosts responded well and restore parity just five minutes later when Pavard towered above the Scotland backline to head home Antoine Griezmann's corner at the front post.
Pavard, playing at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate, then doubled his tally on the 24-minute mark with another header, this time pouncing on Mbappe's pin-point cross and glancing his effort beyond Kelly from close range.
Scotland struggled to pick themselves up and were dealt another blow two minutes before half time when VAR intervened to award France a penalty after Liam Cooper had a fistful of Giroud's shirt; Kelly managed to get a fingertip to the resulting spot kick, but he was unable to prevent Mbappe's powerful strike from nestling into the corner.
France were unable to carry their first-half tempo into the opening stages of the second 45, but they gradually built their rhythm back up, with Mbappe and Griezmann in particular posing a threat in the final third.
However, it was substitute duo Marcus Thuram and Coman who made the difference, with the former bursting down the left flank and drilling a low cross towards Griezmann who somehow steered a volley against the woodwork, before Coman blasted a first-time effort in off the crossbar in the 70th minute.
Thuram nearly added his name to the scoresheet 10 minutes from time when his rising shot smacked the crossbar after racing clean through on goal, but France eventually eased to a comfortable win, albeit against a much-changed Scotland outfit.
France return to international duty on November 18 for a Euro 2024 qualifier at home to Gibraltar, while Scotland play host to Norway two days earlier. body check tags ::
