Germany's all-conquering Nationalmannschaft, who convincingly dismantled the Selecao 7-1 in front of an expectant Brazilian crowd in Belo Horizonte some 61 days ago, return to their homeland as world champions for their first Euro 2016 qualifier, but it will be a relatively new-look defence that take on a buoyant Scottish side tonight.
Joachim Low, the coach who has guided a generation of Germans to the summit of international football, will retain his favoured set-up of 4-3-3 which revolves around ball retention and fluidity in the final third, but there will be several personnel changes from the team that lined up against Argentina on July 13.
These are enforced, due to the retirement of mainstays Phillip Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose who each amassed over a century of caps, and because of injuries to defensive stalwart Mats Hummels, newly-named captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira.
Manuel Neuer, the man taking the term "sweeper keeper" to new extremes, will occupy his customary place between the sticks, but it is those who form the last line of defence in front of him that will give the travelling Tartan Army cause for optimism.
Scotland don't possess an Angel Di Maria who can single-handedly terrorise the German defence like he did last Wednesday night in Argentina's 4-2 humbling of a shaky German outfit. But, if selected, the pace of the likes of Ikechi Anya and Chris Burke could trouble the Germans with their directness and crossing prowess.
The German defence, which has a strong Dortmund contingent in full-backs Erik Durm and Kevin Grosskreutz plus centre-back Matthias Ginter, who partnered Schalke 04's Benedikt Howedes, could be subject to comprehensive changes. The return of Jerome Boateng at the heart of a relatively inexperienced backline will be a welcome one for Low.
Scotland's Steven Naismith is a willing runner, though, and he will be aiming to exploit the high line the Germans hold as their lack of a cohesive positional understanding was highly evident midweek.
In midfield, the area where Germany are truly formidable in the art of monopolising possession, Christoph Kramer looks likely to replace Schweinsteiger as part of a double pivot alongside fellow pass master Toni Kroos.
Stopping the German attacks at source could be key to frustrating and nullifying their forward thinking players, so whoever lines up for Scotland alongside Darren Fletcher, whether it be James McArthur or Charlie Mulgrew, will need to make sure they don't have the room to weave their magic. Marco Reus, who missed the triumph in Brazil through injury, could start in an advanced position on the left flank, much as he does for Borussia Dortmund.
Andre Schurrle, used generally as an impact sub in Brazil, and Thomas Muller, who is instrumental in the effectiveness of Low's system, could provide the Germans with a more physical outlet, and their similar stature and bustling style could prove useful against a dogged and well-organised unit such as the one Gordon Strachan has assembled.
Mario Gotze, the man who clinched Germany's fourth World Cup with his extra-time strike in Brazil, could feature in the No 10 role behind Muller, who will be favourite to start ahead of Mario Gomez. Alternatively he could be deployed as a false No 9 (more like Messi at Barcelona than in Craig Levein's infamous 4-6-0) to accommodate another creative body in the midfield.
Scotland will have to be on full guard for the entire 90 minutes with technically world-class individuals such as Reus and Gotze capable of turning the game with a moment of sheer genius.
If the Scots want to take anything from the match they will have to counter decisively but in controlled numbers or they could leave the Signal Iduna Park with their tails between their legs.
Jordan Campbell
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