Caldwell gives Scotland shock win

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GLASGOW, Scotland -- Scotland stunned World Cup finalists France with a 1-0 victory at Hampden Park on Saturday to go clear at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying group B.

Despite the French dominating the match from start to finish, Celtic defender Gary Caldwell's 67th minute close-range goal, from a Paul Hartley corner, proved enough to give Scotland maximum points after three matches.

Scotland now lead France by three points.

They have also ensured that the rest, including world champions Italy, have it all to do to qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

World champions Italy returned to winning ways by beating Ukraine 2-0 in Rome.

Captain Barry Ferguson said: "This is one of the best days in Scottish football, there's a lot of happy faces in there.

"We're just happy, we came here with a game plan...we shut them down and made it hard for them.

"I wouldn't have believed this two years ago, just look at the the progress we have made," added Ferguson.

"It was everything we could have hoped for," said Scotland manager Walter Smith, whose team has not qualified for a major championship since the 1998 World Cup.

"We got one opportunity and we knocked that in, and we have ended up with a fantastic result.

"Everything they achieved was through hard work and currently they are getting their reward for that. Sometimes in football you don't."

As expected France controlled possession from the kick-off and Thierry Henry twice won free-kicks in good positions within the first 10 minutes, which he took himself.

The Arsenal striker's first in the eighth minute, following a foul by Caldwell, was placed towards the top right-hand corner, out of the reach of Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, but rebounded off the post.

A minute later, after a foul on him by David Weir 25-yards from goal, Henry's shot required Gordon to save under his crossbar.

France had the ball in the net in the 17th minute when Patrick Vi eira headed Franck Ribery's free-kick from the left past Gordon but the assistant referee had already flagged for offside.

Hanging on

Scotland were merely hanging on as the World Cup finalists stretched them over all the pitch.

Florent Malouda almost opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a low drive from 20-yards which Gordon threw himself to his left to fingertip away.

The home side finally had an effort on goal in the 37th minute when Caldwell met Paul Hartley's corner with a downward header which French keeper Gregory Coupet saved low to his right.

Thanks to some inspired and desperate defending by Scotland the score remained goalless at half-time much to the delight of the home support.

Though Scotland had been completely out played in the first-half they could have taken the lead in the 49th minute.

Darren Fletcher played a lovely through ball with the outside of his right boot and James McFadden stole in behind Jean-Alain Boumsong only to slice his shot wide from a tight angle.

France were continuing to dominate, however, and Scotland were content to launch high balls forward out of defense towards lone striker McFadden.

But, entirely against the run of play, Scotland took the lead in the 67th minute.

Hartley won a corner on the right and the Hearts midfielder then flighted the ball in towards the back post where Caldwell slid in to poke home from six yards.

The French were rattled by the goal and they almost found themselves two behind a minute later when Hartley's back-heel released Gary Teale but his side-footed effort was too close to Coupet who saved easily.

Scotland could have snatched another goal in the 78th minute when captain Barry Ferguson put Hartley through on goal but the Hearts player miscontrolled and the chance was lost.

Inevitably France again began to gain the upper hand and they forced a series of corner kicks without ever being able to test Gordon.

In the 86th minute Henry squandered a fantastic opportunity to level the score when Malouda's cross found him unmarked in the penalty area but he headed tamely into the hands of Gordon.

Brilliant form

France threw everything at the Scots in the closing minutes but they struggled to break through the heroic home defense and even when they did they found Gordon in brilliant form.

France coach Raymond Domenech criticized his players for not taking advantage of their first-half chances when his team dominated. He also suggested his stars had lost a winning mentality.

"The Scots did give us a few loose balls but we were not fast enough," he said. "I know what we have to do and what we cannot do. Playing for playing is not enough. We have to play to win and have that combative attitude again.

"We wanted to carry on the euphoria (from the World Cup). But it's an extremely difficult group and Scotland will prove difficult opponents for the other teams."

Domenech, whose occasionally eccentric methods have been criticized by the French media, also had a swipe at the Scottish ball boys for not giving the ball back to his players quickly enough.

"I was disappointed with the ball boys for slowing down the game," he said. "It's regrettable that it was here in a country known for its fair play."

Welcome win

Italy's welcome victory at home to Ukraine was their first since winning the World Cup in July.

The Azzurri now have four points, trailing Scotland by five.

Italy had struggled in their opening two Euro 2008 qualifiers -- a 1-1 draw with Lithuania and 3-1 loss to France.

Against Ukraine they Azzurri to be heading towards another disappointment until Massimo Oddo broke the deadlock from a 70th minute penalty, after Andrei Rusol had pulled back Luca Toni in the box.

Toni added a second in the 79th minute with a rising drive after being put through by substitute Antonio Di Natale.

Italy's win was far from easy though, and they were indebted to keeper Gianluigi Buffon for a string of fine saves.

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