France 0 Scotland 1: McFadden the brave puts Scots on top

Incroyable! James McFadden sent Scotland into dreamland and to the top of the toughest group in Euro 2008 qualifying here in Paris last night with a stunning second-half goal that sealed his country's most incredible result in living memory.

There were 25 minutes left when he struck. The match was goalless but France had been in charge for long spells. McFadden was 35 yards out, and had no obvious options, apart from perhaps running the ball away to use up some time. But did he? Did he heck.

Instead the 24-year-old Everton forward swung his favoured left foot, made the sweetest of contacts, and watched in awe – like everyone else – as the ball rose, dipped over the France goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, who got a hand to it, and then bulged the net.

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For a second time in a year, Scotland have beaten France 1-0. This latest astonishing victory against last year's World Cup runners-up puts Alex McLeish's team top of Group B, and yet another huge, barely credible step nearer the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year.

It also leaves France, if not in crisis, then badly shaken ahead of the final three games. With Italy winning in Ukraine last night, the Azzurri move into second place on 20 points, one behind Scotland and one ahead of Les Bleus.

"What we did tonight needed bravery, and passion, of course, which Scottish teams always have," McLeish said afterwards. "And players who gave everything. They showed fantastic confidence from the moment they stepped over the white line. How many teams have come to Paris and beaten the French? We can now put ourselves on the list of teams who have done it."

Of McFadden's goal, he added: "We needed something special. If was difficult to get people into the final third tonight. And that was something special from a special player. It was one of the greatest goals in Scotland's history, and one of the most important."

Scotland's remaining games are against Ukraine (at home), Georgia (away) and then Italy, at Hampden. "I've always said we can qualify," McLeish said. "We've been within striking distance of France and Italy for some time and a result like this can only add to our confidence."

Maybe the French sporting public had assumed this would be a walk in the park. Maybe, after seeing their rugby team beaten by Argentina last week, they did not want to risk coming along to another potential upset by the lower orders. Whatever the reason, the home fans stayed away in numbers. Hence 16,000-plus noisy Scots: about 12,000 more than the official allocation. Some of them, having found nirvana, may never go home.

McLeish surprised the Tartan Army with a line-up spearheaded by the maverick McFadden, instead of the expected brawn and stamina of Garry O'Connor. And ultimately he delighted them with the best result that he has had, as a player or manager.

His tactics were spot on. A 4-1-4-1 formation, with Paul Hartley in a holding role ahead of the back four, limited the threat, even as France had an enormous share of the possession. Florent Malouda and Franck Ribéry threatened time and again, but, just as last year, they became frustrated and Scotland pounced.

Craig Gordon had made vital – and stunning – stops from Ribéry and then, point-blank, from Nicolas Anelka, in the second half, before Scotland got up and at the French, McFadden foremost among them, and then held on for glory.

Tartan Triumphs: Scotland's greatest moments

3-2 v ENGLAND (European Championship qualifier, Wembley, 1967). Denis Law, Bobby Lennox and Jim McCalliog ensured Scotland crowned themselves unofficial world champions.

0-0 v brazil (World Cup finals, Frankfurt, 1974). Scotland were just a Billy Bremner glance away from causing a major upset.

3-2 v netherlands (World Cup finals, Argentina, 1978). Kenny Dalglish cancelled out Rob Rensenbrink's opener before Archie Gemmill struck twice, first after his famous dribble through the Dutch defence and then from the penalty spot.

3-1 v spain (World Cup qualifier, Hampden Park 1984). Mo Johnston fired a first-half double and Kenny Dalglish hit the clincher.

2-0 v france (World Cup qualifier, Hampden Park, 1989). Mo Johnston scored both goals.

1-0 v france (Euro 2008 qualifier, Hampden, 2006). Gary Caldwell fired Scotland to another famous victory.

France (4-4-2): Landreau (PSG); Diarra (Arsenal), Thuram (Barcelona), Escude (Seville), Abidal (Barcelona); Ribéry (Bayern Munich), Vieira (Internazionale), Makelele (Chelsea), Malouda (Chelsea); Trezeguet (Juventus), Anelka (Bolton). Substitutes used: Samir Nasri (Marseilles) for Vieira, 70; Benzema (Lyons) on for Abidal, 77.

Scotland (4-1-4-1): Gordon (Sunderland); Hutton (Rangers), Weir (Rangers), McManus (Celtic), Alexander (Burnley); Hartley (Celtic); Brown (Celtic), Ferguson (Rangers), Fletcher (Man Utd), McCulloch (Rangers); McFadden (Everton). Substitutes used: Pearson (Derby) for Fletcher, 27; O'Connor (Birmingham) for McFadden, 76.

Referee: K Plautz (Austria).

Remaining fixtures: 13 Oct: Faroe Islands v France; Italy v Georgia; Scotland v Ukraine. 17 Oct: France v Lithuania; Georgia v Scotland; Ukraine v Faroe Islands. 17 Nov: Lithuania v Ukraine; Scotland v Italy. 21 Nov: Georgia v Lithuania; Italy v Faroe Islands; Ukraine v France.