IT is a great experience playing the No.1 team in the world.

It is great to pit your wits against that standard of opposition.

That is the attitude the Scotland players will take into their opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Germany in Dortmund on Sunday.

There is no point saying: "If we play reasonably well and only lose by a couple of goals it is fine."

I know we won't line up with a 4-4-2 formation. But we have to positive.

If we can stop them from playing, if we can flood the midfield, if we can force them to resort to long balls, then we have a chance.

We have to have a go at them. If we approach the match with trepidation we will end up getting battered.

Losing Scott Brown and Robert Snodgrass is a blow. Brown is a leader who makes those around him perform. Snodgrass holds the ball up well, creates chances for others and pitches in with the odd goal.

But we have really come on in the past 18 months under Strachan and now have players who can come in and do a decent job.

This is such an important campaign. We have not been to a major finals since France '98. It is about time we were involved again.

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