Scotland need luck on their side against well-drilled Germany, says Charlie Nicholas

Scotland need "a large slice of luck" against world champions Germany and the first 20 minutes will be key, says Charlie Nicholas.

A 1-0 defeat to Georgia on Friday saw Gordon Strachan's side slip to fourth in Group D and means anything other than victory would all-but end their hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2016.  

Soccer Saturday pundit Nicholas believes a make-or-break game - live on Sky Sports - could hinge on the opening stages - and fired a warning to Strachan's midfielders. 

"The first 20 minutes is key. If we don't lose a goal and hang in there we'll believe we can get something out of the match."

Former Scotland international Neil McCann questioned Strachan's team selection against Georgia but Nicholas believes the manager should persist with Steven Fletcher over Leigh Griffiths in attack.

"I don't see him playing Griffiths - at this level you're asking a great deal of the lad," Nicholas said.

"We aren't going to make a lot of chances so people might say well shouldn't he be playing if he's our best finisher? I'm not convinced he is our best finisher. He's the hottest striker we have in goalscoring terms right now but Fletcher is a better player.

"He's (Griffiths) started the season well for Celtic and he's the top goalscorer in Scotland, but he's a penalty box predator, he's not a link-up man. He could run about for 45 minutes tonight and not get a kick and the lad becomes a passenger.

"For me I would partner Fletcher with Naismith.

"Strachan says he wants to be a bit bolder tonight so I would push Naismith further forward and threaten it to be a 4-4-2 and when you have the ball it becomes a 4-2-4.

"I've just got a feeling Gordon will play Naismith in a deeper role or he might put Naismith up front on his own and leave Fletcher and Griffiths on the bench."