France U21 2-0 Scotland U21

Scotland's hopes of qualifying for the European Under-21 Championship suffered a blow as two goals in five minutes from Sebastien Haller were enough to give France a 2-0 victory.

Utrecht's Haller scored in the 69th and 74th minutes at the Stade Jean-Bouin to leave Scotland with ground to make up in Group Three if they are to make the finals in Poland next summer.

France's win means they sit top of the group, one point ahead of Iceland and eight clear of Scotland, who have one game more to play than the leading pair.

The Tartan Army looked on course to take a valuable point from the contest after Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton made several excellent saves, includingone to keep out Adrien Rabiot's header in the first half.

The French, however, boasted a handful of emerging talents, with the likes of Rabiot, Aymeric Laporte and Ousmane Dembele all in action and reportedly attracting the attention of Europe's top clubs.

It was Dembele's corner that Rabiot met in the 36th minute, only for Hamilton to claw it away, before Maxwel Cornet looked certain to break the deadlock before seeing his effoty hacked off the line by Hearts' Jordan McGhee.

Soon after the hour-mark the Scottish resistance finally caved as full-back Jean-Philippe Gbamin broke through down the right and pulled the ball back to Haller, who spun and shot past Hamilton with impressive speed.

The striker doubled his tally, tapping home after Hamilton had parried Rabiot's long-range effort.

France could have had a third late on, but victory was already secure.

Scotland's attention now turns to a crunch match at home to Northern Ireland on Tuesday.