Matthew Lindsay's Five Minute Guide to Scotland v Germany

So can they bounce back with a draw or even a win against Joachim Loew's superstars? Here, chief football writer Matthew Lindsay examines their chances?

So, do Scotland stand any chance at all of getting anything out of this game against the World Cup holders?

The national team always has a chance. Over the years, they have often been at their best when they have been written off against top quality opposition. But it will certainly be a tall order. The gulf in class is vast. The home team goes into the game on the back of a disastrous 1-0 defeat to Georgia away in Tbilisi on Friday night which has jeopardised their prospects of reaching the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer. A delayed flight home, which saw the players get back to their hotel at after seven o’clock on Saturday morning, was far from ideal preparation, too. The visitors, meanwhile, have overcome their shaky start to their qualifying campaign. A 3-1 win over Poland in Frankfurt last week saw them displace their rivals as Group D leaders with three games remaining.

So how can Scotland get a result against Germany?

With great difficulty. Gordon Strachan’s side was nothing short of woeful against Georgia. They didn’t even manage one shot on target in the Boris Paichadze Stadium. Strachan has to ascertain what went wrong and figure out how it can be rectified. The manager is certainly set to make extensive changes to his starting line-up. That could see James McArthur, who has been in excellent form for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League, brought in at central midfield alongside Scott Brown. James Morrison, meanwhile, could be moved forward. He plays in a more advanced role for West Brom in the top flight down south and is another who has done well at club level this term. Elsewhere, James Forrest, the Celtic winger who looked capable of creating a chance after coming on in the second half in Tbilisi, is also set to feature. Ikechi Anya and Steven Naismith, who failed to perform at their usual level, could drop out. Neither man has been playing regularly in recent weeks and it showed. Elsewhere, Strachan has suggested that Chris Martin, the Derby County striker who won the last of his five caps against England in November, could be called upon. Strachan has a lot of big decisions to make in defence, midfield and attack. Who partners Russell Martin at centre half, Grant Hanley or Charlie Mulgrew, is one of them. Who plays at left back, Andy Robertson or Steven Whittaker, is another.

Will Scott Brown retain his position in the starting line-up? He had an off night against Georgia?

If fit, the Celtic midfielder will almost certainly be in the side. Yes, he was not at his best against Kakhaber Tskhadadze’s side. But he was not alone. Many of the Scotland players failed to turn up. Strachan will want the tireless energy and combativeness which his captain brings to the side. It is probably too great a risk to drop the captain ahead of such a big game against world-class adversaries. He may, though, find himself partnering McArthur, not Morrison, in the 4-2-3-1 formation his manager uses.

How are Joachim Loew’s side looking?

Fantastic. The Germany manager has no injury worries for this game. The side which beat Poland on Friday night featured the likes of Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels, Mario Goetze and Bastian Schweinsteiger. The visitors have to win this game to maintain their position at the top of Group D and take another step towards automatic qualification for the finals in France next year. They are taking this outing very seriously. Then again, they take every outing very seriously.

The game is a sell-out. Won’t the backing of the Tartan Army help Scotland’s cause?

They will certainly make a difference. If the host team can stop the visitors from scoring then hope, and decibel levels, will grow. But Germany are very unlikely to be intimidated by the atmosphere which is likely to be generated inside Hampden. Remember, this is the team which defeated Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semi-final in Brazil last summer. Sure, a few of their main players have retired since then. But most of the individuals who were responsible have remained. They are hardly likely to get freaked out by a few choruses of “Doh-A-Deer”.

Will defeat end Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2016 finals in France next summer?

Not at all. Even if Scotland lose and the Republic of Ireland prevail against Georgia in Dublin, Strachan’s side still has a chance of finishing in third place in Group D. The national team’s last two games are against Poland at home and minnows Gibraltar away. Ireland’s last two games are against Germany at home and Poland away. Anything can still happen.

Score prediction?

Scotland 1, Germany 3.

Take a look at Hampden pre-match...