SCOTLAND take on the world champions on Monday night. Can Gordon Strachan’s men get anything from this game? Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) looks at the odds.
Scotland v Germany | Monday 19:45 | Sky Sports 1
How was your weekend? All good I hope. Mine? Pretty awful. Why? Friday night you see, Scotland’s shock defeat to Georgia hurt badly. Finally it looked like we had an excellent chance of qualifying for a tournament, but after that defeat it’s very much in doubt now.
After the meltdown in Georgia it’s a home match against the world champions Germany for the beleaguered Scots now. Nae bother eh? Well, of course not but I think there’s hope.
I’m not sure why the WLB bosses have given this game to me as I’m as Scottish as they come, so feel free to dismiss these utterings as subjective rambling. Saying that though I am trying to be as objective as possible. Honest.
Anyway, let’s get to the point. I can’t foresee anything other than a hardy, brave, stoic Scottish performance on Monday. They simply have to bounce back after the meek performance of Friday and I’m convinced they will. This is what Scotland do.
Bouncebackability is peppered throughout the nations history. In 1978 Holland were beaten after a defeat to Peru and draw with Iran. In 1990 Sweden were slain after Andy Roxburgh’s side were beaten by Costa Rica and in more recent times Slovenia were destroyed 3-0 on their own patch after the Scots lost at home to Belarus in 2005.
This is the first serious pressurised test of Gordon Strachan’s tenure and it will be fascinating to see how he copes. Make no mistake, he’ll be hurt and embarrassed after Friday night’s performance and will be desperate to put it right. As will the players too. You’d like to think they’ve been tossing and turning in their beds since hitting the sack late on Friday.
Scotland are 15/2 to win on Monday. I think that’s too big. There was so much optimism about this side before Friday and so much respect had been paid to it before the Georgia defeat.
This was a side that had drawn in Poland (Germany lost there), a side that had drawn in Dublin (Germany couldn’t beat them at home) and a side that had high hopes of qualifying.
Will Germany be in top gear on Monday night? Will they need to be? Their campaign is back on track after their home win over Poland and three points in Glasgow isn’t a huge necessity. For Scotland though, inspiration needs to be rediscovered.
I’m expecting a ferocious response from Scotland on Monday. So ferocious it might be enough to get something from this game against the world champions. Poland and Ireland have already shown that they’re there to be got at.
Strachan’s Scotland have already beaten Croatia home and away and beaten Poland away in a friendly. If they can convert their deep hurt and pain from Friday night and turn it into something positive here then I feel they can post a big performance. I’m willing to back them at 19/10 to avoid defeat.
Best Bets
Scotland v Germany – Scotland +1 (19/10 BetVictor)
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