France show Scotland their bullying streak as emboldened Steve Clarke's crash courses are only beginning – Keith Jackson in Lille

Sometimes the most valuable lessons also happen to be the most punishing.

And that was the case for Scotland’s Euro high-flyers last night as the second best team on the planet brought them tumbling down from the dizzying heights of Sunday. Albeit, not without a decent fight. Which was the big take away that Steve Clarke had been hoping for. If his side can play like this against Europe’s best in Germany then the rest will take care of itself. Clarke is looking to put his players through a whole series of similar crash courses before now and next summer.

But the World Cup runners- up don’t run a creche here. And there was an almost bullying streak to the manner in which they took Clarke’s second string to school ahead of next summer’s graduation party in the big boys’ playground. In terms of the scoreline this beating became far more brutal than Scotland deserved. Clarke’s wholesale changes did not inhibit the players he did send out. On the contrary, they performed both with bravery and no little composure, even when the result was getting away from them.

It was miles more impressive, for example, than the recent friendly defeat to England which does suggest that this steep learning curve is paying off. When the brilliant Billy Gilmour lashed Scotland in front after 12 minutes it felt like a second James McFadden moment in five days. But it was met by a furious and clinical French response.

The pain of losing four goals will be fleeting. But the knowledge gathered will be invaluable in the long run. Clarke did promise to ring the changes and – as he proved on Sunday to his SFA bosses by qualifying them directly into next summer’s tournament – he is nothing if not a man of his word.

Only three from his starting line-up