INCROYABLE! THERE WILL BE A FEW unfamiliar words appearing in headlines in French newspapers this morning. It is one country that does not do football embarrassment too often, so the boys at L’Equipe will need to dust down their La Honte (shame) and Choque (shock) front pages.

The last time France suffered such a public humiliation, it was over The Rainbow Warrior. Two decades on, the greens had their revenge. Gary Caldwell’s Celtic connection will not be missed by those who have carried a Gallic grudge ever since that infamous day.

Not since Gérard Houllier was manager of the national side have the French lost away in a qualifying game of any description. That was in 14 years and 42 games ago, a defeat by Bulgaria that ultimately cost France a place at the 1994 World Cup final and Houllier his job. So, Thierry Henry tried to keep a sense of perspective when asked by Scottish reporters if Raymond Domenech’s side would face a public backlash for losing to Scotland.

“Shame?” queried the Arsenal striker. “There is nothing shameful in football about losing.” Henry could easily have eluded the press with the same ease as he does with defenders as he came through the Hampden Park mixed zone at 8pm on Saturday night, but he did not. The French talisman dealt with it all in good grace, but underneath he was eager to put the record straight right away and promised the Scots — just wait till you come to Paris.

His colleague, Jean-Alain Boumsong, said he would have to “return to France and hide”. The former Rangers and Newcastle United defender was half-joking. Henry pointed to Scotland’s capability to create an upset several weeks ago but not everyone at home shared that view. “Scotland don’t have any big stars like Alessandro Nesta or Fabio Cannavaro, that’s why a lot of people in France did not expect this result to happen,” the striker said.

“We didn’t just have possession, we had opportunities. Listen, I knew how the game was going to be because at Arsenal we have it every time we play away from home. Teams put everyone at the back and play long ball after long ball. James McFadden did well not to get too upset because he didn’t see a lot of the ball when I know he can play football if you play on the ground with him.

“Clearly, the Scottish team just wanted to kick the ball forward and it worked for them because they got a corner, then another one and then they scored. Like I say, it’s been like that for Arsenal at the beginning of this season. We’ve been on top of other teams yet losing or drawing games we shouldn’t. But football is not about what you create or how you play — it’s about winning.

“Scotland won this game but this is a tough group and now they must play Ukraine away and we have to play the Faeroe Isles, so maybe we can go to the top of the group after Wednesday. Remember, Scotland have also to come to our ground. But I have said all along that I think this group is the toughest group of all.

“I am not really upset. I would have been upset had we been outplayed or outmuscled but the only thing we didn’t have was that bit of luck you need. For example, I had a free kick which hit the post then came out. Patrick [Vieira] was then an inch of a yard offside for his goal. You have games like that but fair credit to Scotland because they played a good game, the game they wanted to play and won. That is the fact at the end of the day, they won 1-0.

“We will see who is going to go through. Fair credit to Scotland, they stuck to their game but they have to go to the Ukraine soon and we will see. Everyone will be happy in Scotland after this result and I am delighted for them. However, I repeat, we will see who is going to go through and I hope I see you all in Paris.”

Boumsong admired Scotland’s tactical discipline. “They stepped back and waited and and that surprised me because I know the public here doesn’t accept that kind of game,” the former Ibrox player now with Juventus said.

“Scotland showed that it’s the best way to play when you’re faced with a team that is better than you on paper. Sometimes that’s something you have to accept — then it’s about being tactically better than the opposition. And let’s be honest, Scotland tactically were better.

“They accepted that we’re better with the ball than them but they stepped back and showed their Scottish fighting spirit which I know all about. The whole team played well but I want to congratulate the manager, Walter Smith, who was tactically correct and used his team in the best way.

“We have lost today but this is only the third game of the group. There is still a long way to go until the end and we’ll see what happens. Remember, we’ve to meet Scotland in France. We always knew qualification was not going to be easy even before the games started. Everyone thought France and Italy would be on top of the group by now but that’s not the case. Scotland are there. I have said all along that they are a very good team. I think we have to fight them for qualification and it’s not going to be easy.”

Boumsong feels that Smith has completed a genuine makeover of a Scotland side who were 84th in the Fifa rankings when the defender lived in Glasgow in 2004. “The progress hasn’t surprised me because I said two years ago that Scottish football was good. Technically, maybe it’s not the best but it’s still good. That said, the progress is substantial. I think they have to continue like this but it’s a long way until they qualify and reach the European Championships. If they work well and stay humble then maybe they will be able to deal with the top teams.”

However, the former Ibrox defender admitted there is one thing at that Scotland can claim to be world class — supporting its team. “The atmosphere in Scotland is maybe the best in the world,” Boumsong noted. “When you have the fans behind you like they were, then it’s like an extra man to the team — a 12th man. When the fans are like that, it inspires you to give everything, your very best, and with that public I think Scotland can do well in this campaign. I will now return to France and hide, of course.”