THE quality of the opposition at Hampden tonight is such that it will be difficult to determine whether the marathon journey home from Georgia in the early hours of Saturday morning was in any way to blame if Scotland succumb to a defeat.

But Gordon Strachan yesterday dismissed suggestions that a flight from Tbilisi which was delayed by nearly two hours had impacted adversely on the national team’s preparations for their Euro 2016 qualifier with Germany.

Strachan and his players, already dejected after a 1-0 reverse which has significantly reduced their chances of qualifying for the European Championship finals in France next year, only made it back to their team hotel at Mar Hall outside of Bishopton after seven o’clock.

The manager stressed the training schedule ahead of the meeting with the World Cup holders had not altered as a consequence of their travel difficulties and insisted they could still compete with Joachim Low’s charges.

“We have been to places before and it has not run perfectly well for us, but we have still won the game of football or won the game after it,” he said. “I would get angry if any of the players used it as an excuse. But they are not going to do that, they are all right.”

Nevertheless, lessons must be learned by the SFA, who refused to pay for the plane which took the Scotland squad out to Georgia on Wednesday to remain at the airport, to ensure there is no repeat of this episode in the future.

It has been suggested by governing body sources that it would have cost around £500,000 to keep the aircraft on the tarmac in Tbilisi for the two days between flights – but that seems like a ridiculously expensive sum.

A trip which already presented considerable problems was complicated further when the jet which was due to take the official party home was prevented from leaving Amsterdam by adverse weather conditions.

Sitting around an airport departure lounge for several hours just two days before a competitive international against world-class rivals is not how professional athletes should be preparing. Can you imagine Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos or Manuel Neuer warming up for a game in such a manner? Thought not.

The claim that the limited number of seats with additional leg room were given to officials, including SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, instead of the taller players so as not to create ill feeling among their team mates is also unconvincing.

The unfortunate affair has overshadowed the build-up to a match which sold out rapidly and which those fortunate enough to get their hands on tickets have been anticipating eagerly for some considerable time.

It will be quite an achievement if Scotland to get a result, even just a draw, against opponents who moved to the top of their qualifying section with a convincing 3-1 win over Poland in Frankfurt on Friday evening.

Yet, Strachan, who is set to make several changes to his starting line-up, believes having the mental strength to bounce back from such a poor result and perform against such formidable adversaries will be every bit as important as physical condition. He is confident that his key men have that quality in abundance.

“After defeats, I don’t think it is the physical side but the mental side, the strength to come back again,” he said. “They all get the same water, all get the same food. It is the ones with that drive inside that will make the difference in a game of football.

“I would be disappointed if anybody thought the delay was a problem. We planned for four o’clock training and analysis with the staff last night. It has not put us out of kilter at all. Again, it’s the mental strength of people, how to deal with adversity either on the pitch or off the pitch, which matters.

“We are playing against world class players. They all play in the Champions League, we are not at that level. So we have to have 10 out of 11 playing well tomorrow.

“So far we have been tested and the physical side is no problem, the mental side, having to keep going, trying to play, is hard work. Over the two years they have been tested quite a bit, going behind and coming back, so it can’t be questioned.”

Strachan, who famously scored against West Germany in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, admires Germany more than any other international team and admitted he was constantly impressed by their ability to reinvent themselves.

“They keep evolving,” he said. “They have evolved since the last time that we played them, they’re doing things that are a wee bit different. I studied them in Poland and they have changed a bit since then.

“They have players who can play anywhere on the pitch with a physical presence, whether it’s the wide man or the one who steps in. They all have that core strength. They can interchange and they are comfortable in different positions. And with that they have a good touch and the ability to pass the ball, so when you’re playing them you are up against it.”

Scotland have often been at their best in the past when they are up against it in games against a far superior quality of opposition and their manager is adamant his side can hold or even defeat Germany despite the far from ideal preparations.

“I am looking for a point,” he said. “I have to pick a team in mind where I want a point – but I want three as well. We are not saying it’s over and done with if we don’t get it. But I am more than confident we will get something from the game.”