Vogts sees a silver lining

Berti Vogts watched Scotland crash to defeat in Paris

BBC Sport Online's Clive Lindsay reports from Paris.

Scotland manager Berti Vogts refused to be too downhearted after watching his new charges given a hammering in Paris.

The world champions ran out impressive 5-0 winners in front of a capacity 80,000 crowd at the Stade de France, with four goals coming in a first half blitz.

The French stepped down a gear or two after the break and Vogts declared he had been pleased by his side's improved display after the restart.

"In the first half maybe I was watching the new world champions," said Vogts.

"The pressure was too much for my young team. But in the second half we controlled the game.

We have to look to the next game and I am sure we will play better

Scotland manager Berti Vogts

"The result was not good for me but good for France. I hope that next month against Nigeria in Aberdeen we play better."

Vogts handed debuts to young defenders Stephen Crainey and Gary Caldwell from the start and sent on striker Steven Thompson in the second half.

He said: "It was a great experience for my players and especially for the younger ones."

And the German refused to harbour any fears that the margin of the defeat would damage their confidence in the future.

He said: "I don't think so. I think we have to look to the second half.

Stephen Crainey was given a torrid Scotland debut

"We changed the system, bringing on Scot Gemmill and Gary Holt. Gary Holt had muscle problems so Jackie McNamara came on and it was better in midfield.

"The last goal was not important for me."

Scotland were rarely given a kick of the ball by the inventive French, but Vogts was able to put a positive spin on the problem by arguing that introducing even more younger players would surely improve the team's mobility.

He said: "Maybe we can only go the way of the young generation and not picking players who are 35 and over.

"We have to look to the next game and I am sure we will play better."