Robert Pires encourages Scotland to adopt a French approach

Robert Pires has suggested that Scotland should copy the approach used by the French national side to develop younger players. 

The former Arsenal star feels failures in youth structures are an obvious cause of a Scottish exile from major tournaments that stretches back to 1998.

Pires was in Scotland to promote his participation in the Star Sixes tournament, and the 44-year-old sympathised with Alex McLeish. 

When asked if the French way was the way forward Pires told the 'Daily Mail'. "I'm not arrogant, but I think yes," he said.

"Yes, because for the country and the clubs, the academy in France is capital.

"That why we find (Kylian) Mbappe, (Ousmane) Dembele, (Nabil) Fekir, (Benjamin) Pavard, (Benjamin) Mendy and so on. The team is very young.

"But you need to work at it to prepare the future. The French federation did that and now Didier Deschamps has a good team.

"For the Scottish federation, I think the most important thing is not the professional level but with young players at the beginning. You need to work to have the right education.

"I don't know if the structure in France for young players is the best in the world, but it is one of the best. The federation in France prepared for the future and look at it now.

"We won the World Cup because the young players grew up in a good atmosphere and now you see the quality and the talent. But you have to find that talent first. And, in France, we find them.' 

Pires recalled being alongside a Scottish side as part of the semi-final line for the 1996 Under-21 European Championships held in Barcelona. Scotland hasn't reached that tournament in the 22 years since, finishing fourth in their qualifying group this year.

"Looking back to 1996 seems like a long time," added Pires.

"But look now at what has happened for your country and the federation.

"I repeat, you need talent. But you also need to find talent and they often come from the small academies and small teams.

"Mbappe came from a small team, but you need to go and watch all the time. In France, the federation works like that all the time.'