Lambert: Strachan Won't Need To Motivate Scotland Players

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan will not have to lift his side for their 2016 Euro qualifier against Germany at Hampden Park on Monday night, according to Paul Lambert.

The Scots dropped into fourth dropped in Group D, one point behind Republic of Ireland who occupy the play-off place on 12 points, following their unexpected 1-0 defeat in Georgia on Friday night.

After a slow start to their campaign, Joachim Low's World Cup winners leapfrogged opponents Poland into top place on 16 points with an impressive 3-1 home win in their encounter hours later and, with three games remaining, their next stop is Glasgow.

Former Scotland midfielder Lambert, who played for Borussia Dortmund and Celtic, was speaking at a William Hill event at Hampden Park and said that the visit of the world champions will be enough to inspire the Scots.

"I don't think Gordon will need to say much,'' he said. The lads will know what they are going into - they will know the magnitude of the game.

"So Gordon won't have to lift the players - they will be ready for it. I will guarantee they will be ready for it.

"They have to take something from the game. That is the harsh reality.

"Over the course of the group you expect the Germans to go through.

"You think Poland will beat Gibraltar and Ireland will have a spring in their step after the other night (Scotland defeat) but anything can happen.

"There will be times when we don't have the ball but we will get chances and we just have to take them.

"Defeat won't finish it for Scotland but you then have to hope that results elsewhere go your way.''

Lambert saw enough in Germany's win over Poland on Friday night to confirm to him that Low's side are over their World Cup "hangover''.

The former Norwich and Aston Villa boss said: "Germany were a bit stop-start after the World Cup but I think that was down to having so many games and not really having a good break.

"But a year down the line they are fresher. They have had a holiday and they look a different team. That is the difference from a year ago. The team I saw against Poland looked really good.

"There is a chance for Scotland. It is a one-off game.

"As long as Scotland can keep it tight for the first part of that game, they will be in it.''