Saturday, France lost an UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match to Scotland. The upset was France's first away qualification defeat in several years. France dominated play but failed to score, a not unfamiliar story. And in the end it is scoring that determines these things.
GRITTY SCOTS FELL FRANCE AT HAMPDEN
TO LEAD GROUP OF DEATH
SCOTLAND 1 - 0 FRANCE
October 8, 2006 (Scotsman)
The French players mixed magnanimity and pettiness in defeat.
TARTAN BARMY AS BOUM HAILS WORLD'S BEST FANS
October 9, 2006 (Evening Times) - France defender Jean-Alain Boumsong hailed the Tartan Army as the greatest fans on the planet after they roared Scotland to a famous victory at Hampden.
When you have the fans behind you like [the Scots] were, then it’s like an extra man to the team — a 12th man. When the fans are like that, it inspires you to give everything, your very best, and with that public I think Scotland can do well in this campaign. I will now return to France and hide, of course.
October 9, 2006 (Evening Times) - France's miffed monsieurs refused to swap shirts with their Scotland rivals after their historic defeat on Saturday. Thierry Henry was one of the few Frenchmen to swap jerseys on the pitch immediately after the full-time whistle.
But it was France coach Raymond Domenech who made the world-class French team look like very sorry losers.
SACRE BLEU, IT WAS THE BALLBOYS' FAULT FRANCE LOST
October 9, 2006 (Scotsman) - The French could have found several reasons for their first defeat in a qualifying match in seven years after Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Scotland at Hampden Park.... But bizarrely, France coach Raymond Domenech pointed the finger at a more unlikely source as the dust settled at Mount Florida. It was the ballboys wot done it.
"I was disappointed with the ball boys for slowing down the game," said Domenech. "I think they may have been educated in that. It's regrettable that it was here in a country known for its fair play."
PFFT (What is this?): Ballboy treachery 0 | Rayonnement français 0
