McFadden kept his country on course for Euro 2008 qualification with a long-range strike which was fumbled by home goalkeeper Mikael Landreau.

It completed a famous double over the World Cup finalists following an identical result in the home leg.

McFadden said on Sky Sports 1: "To win at Hampden was a bit of an upset. To come to France and beat them in a qualifier is unbelievable."

Asked if it was Scotland's finest result, he added: "I can't remember. They're up there with the best teams in the world and we've more than held our own and we've got a a win.

"It wasn't pretty at times, we defended well, we were solid and got a goal and won the game."

Of his decision to go for goal in the 64th minute, the Everton midfielder said: "We trained here last night and the balls were flying everywhere so I thought 'why not?'"

McFadden believes Scotland are now on course for a place in Euro 2008.

He added: "We've got a great chance now.

"We've got to believe we can win the rest of the games - why not?"

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McFadden admitted hard work had been behind the victory over last year's World Cup runners-up.

He added on Sky Sports News: "They're up there as one of the best teams in the world and we've come here and we've more than held our own, and we've got a win.

"It was not pretty at times. We defended well, we were solid, we got a goal and won the game."

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Scotland manager Alex McLeish declared the result Scotland's finest victory for years.

"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," McLeish told Sky Sports.

McLeish added: "I think we can say it's the best result of modern times, the way we weren't given a prayer.

"We've said the team are not as gifted as other Scottish teams but they showed tonight we can play football as well. At times we played the ball beautifully."

The former Rangers boss was delighted with the application of every player in his team.

"We needed everybody to buy into the plan it terms of the shape and the disciplines," he said.

"We didn't have too many attacks and we said we'd have to weather the storm at times.

"We had everyone in fantastic form and James McFadden has hit an inspirational goal again.

"It's something I said in a press conference a month or two ago, before Faddy was back in, while he was injured, that he's capable of doing something different and that was something pretty special."

As for whether Scotland should now believe they can reach next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland, McLeish said: "They've just proved to themselves they've got it. They should take the belief from that."

"It's an example of, having done it, the belief should be there and the confidence should be there."

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Midfielder Paul Hartley came into the Scotland team, after being omitted for Saturday's win over Lithuania.

The Celtic player said on BBC Radio Scotland: "It's brilliant. What a result! It just doesn't get any better. A fantastic performance by everybody.

"What team spirit.

"We've got a long way to go. We're in the driving seat now. We've always believed. It's just brilliant."