THE FRENCH RESISTED WELL THE SCOTTISH, BEING BEATED ONLY BY TWO GOALS
— Lucien Gamblin | 19/05/1930 —

In front of twenty-five thousand spectators, yesterday, at the Yves-du-Manoir stadium, in Colombes, the Scottish national team beat the French eleven by 2 goals to 0. This is a more than honorable result for the football of our country, and even, let's say it frankly, quite unfair for our winners if we have to make a comparison between the teams which were present, based solely on the mark achieved.

Indeed, the Scottish players demonstrated such mastery in the game that they seemed, at times, to be the only ones playing in the middle of the field. Perfect technicians, moreover, skilled feints and shooters, they amazed us with their science and their in-depth knowledge of the game. The range of their combinations is infinitely varied; their sureness, their ease in executing the most difficult shots produced a tremendous impression, and it is with pleasure that we will see these great footballers, artists ranked among the best, playing on our fields again in a sport which counts its followers in the millions .

And the French team! Despite the obvious superiority of their opponent, they were in no way ridiculous. Playing with heart, making the best use of their qualities of youth, speed and enthusiasm, the French courageously tackled a terribly difficult task. And as long as the half-backs were able to retain enough physical resources, the attack succeeded in forcing the attacking half-backs and full-backs to use the entire learned repertoire to defend their often threatened camp.

The Scots' play, always at ground level, made up of short passes of rare precision, was "exhausting" for our players who ran in vain after an elusive ball. And, in these conditions, it is not surprising that our defensive players and our half-backs weakened in the second half.

The young French people took an excellent football lesson yesterday. We want to believe that it will bear fruit.

Among the players who stood out the most, we must mention, among the Scots:

Thomson, goalkeeper of perfect classicism. He hardly did any work, but what he did was so perfect that it gave us great pleasure to watch him do it.

Crapnell, a right-back who knows the game admirably. His very powerful and precise clearances made a big impression.

Walker, a centre-half like we don't have. Athletic and vigorous, he nevertheless plays with finesse and participates in the attack with great efficiency.

Jackson, extraordinary right winger. Great, powerful, fast; he uses the ball with consummate art. He is indeed the extraordinary player announced.

Gallacher, ball phenomenon, which he drives with incomparable mastery. He's the greatest footballer we've ever seen. He plays football with unparalleled ease; he's a great ace.

Among the French, Thépot played a great part as goalkeeper, and if he was beaten twice, we cannot blame him. Anatol defended with admirable heart. He was the soul of the defense and he did tremendous work. Capelle played a good match, and has some successful interventions to his credit. Pavillard, Delfour and Pinel combined very well, especially in the first half. Fine, skillful and active, they combined pleasantly during the first part of the match. After the break, weaned from the ball, they were less in evidence, but this is the fault of their half-backs.

Mr. Van Praag's refereeing was average. He whistled fouls for shoulder charges which were in no way reprehensible.

THE MATCH.

The two teams presented themselves as follows:

Scotland: Thomson; Nelson, Crapnell; Wilson, Walker, Hill; Jackson, Cheyne, Gallacher, Stevenson, Connor.

France: Thénot; Capelle, Anatol; J. Laurent, Banide, Chantrel; Korb, Delfour, Pinel, Pavillard, Kaufmann.

Mr. Van Praag, of the Belgian Federation, referee.

From the start, the Scots attack, Jackson, sent by Cheyne, center. Thépot intercepts and clears. Connor runs down the sideline and passes to Stevenson who slips the ball to Gallacher, who shoots. Thépot stops. The Scots support their game; they dominate. Gallacher shoots again; Thépot stops in the best way. Anatol clears a cross from Jackson. Pinel takes the ball, dribbles past Walker and passes to Kauffmann. A free kick stops the offensive. Our forwards continue to stand out, but the Scottish backs and goalkeeper step in and clear their side.

Our opponents redoubled their ardour; like fireworks, their actions multiplied and our half-backs and full-backs had their work cut out for them.

Fortunately, Thépot was in fine form and he prevented the score from going wide.

Thépot cleared two corners for France. Delfour, well placed, was slow to kick and the ball was taken from him by Crapnell, who sent it to his forwards. Stevenson then dribbled past Gallacher, who scored with a splendid shot that Thépot could do nothing about. A minute later, from a Wilson free-kick against France, Gallacher headed over and scored again. The referee did not award the goal for offside.

And it's halftime.

Scotland 1; France: 0.

THE SECOND HALF.

The Scots seem to want to attack more vigorously. Well supported by their half-backs, they remained in the French camp. And from then on, with rare exceptions, the match will be a struggle between the French defense and the Scottish attack. A powerful shot from Walker hits the bench and comes back into play, Thépot was beaten. The French concede two corners which Thépot clears, Pinel throws Korb who crosses to Delfour, who, with a returned kick seems to score, but Thomson makes a magnificent leap and diverts the ball for a corner. Jackson, Gallacher, Stevenson, Connor dribble, feint and shoot in turn, Thépot stops everything. A very powerful free kick from Walker is stopped by our goalkeeper. Our half-backs and inside forwards are floating and our offense doesn't often have the ball. Five minutes before the end Connor starts dribbling, he avoids Chantrel and Anatol and crosses, Gallacher takes it again and scores.

Scotland 2; France 0.

The French team reacts, but it's the end.