Paul Lambert's message to Scotland ahead of crunch World Cup qualifier vs Denmark

• Paul Lambert speaks to Ladbrokes ahead of Scotland's huge World Cup qualifier against Denmark

• The ex-Scotland international says the Tartan Army need to "play with their heads not their hearts"

• Scotland need a win to secure qualification for the World Cup for the first time since 1998

Paul Lambert speaks exclusively to Ladbrokes ahead of Scotland's huge World Cup qualifier against Denmark. The ex-Scotland international talks about the importance of "playing with their heads over their hearts" as they seek the win they need to secure automatic World Cup qualification.

They need to play with their heads over their hearts; playing this kind of game with emotion is a dangerous thing.

I think if you’d have said to the guys, and to Steve [Clarke], look, you’ve got to win one game at Hampden to qualify for the World Cup, and it’s the last game of the group, they’d have taken it. I think everybody thought we’d finish second at best, and we’ve now got a great chance to top the group.

The Greece result obviously wasn’t one we wanted, but to have been 3-0 down and pull the game back to 3-2, with the chance of equalising late on means we can still take positives from the performance. Of course, it’s going to be a really tough game against Denmark, but it’s a great opportunity ahead, and that’s everyone’s aim.

Defensively, the whole team will need to be a bit better – they have to work better as a unit when they don’t have the ball. And, listen, you can’t win the game in the first minute, but you can lose it. 

You’ve got 90 minutes to take the lead, and it doesn’t matter how or when you do it – the lads have to play calm and not get caught up with the emotion from the fans. If they do that, they’ve got a great, great chance.

They need to play with their heads over their hearts; playing this kind of game with emotion is a dangerous thing. But the biggest takeaway from the last game, looking ahead to the next, is that they need to be better defensively at this level.

The fans will have a huge part to play on Tuesday night, they can’t be anxious. They’re going to bring a great energy and feeling to the stadium, but it’s important everyone finds the right level and stays calm, because this Denmark team will also thrive under the atmosphere of the occasion.

Without a doubt, they’re going to be dangerous on the counter-attack, so it’s about Scotland just being disciplined and taking their chances as and when they come, because there will be lots of chances in front of that home crowd.

I think we’ll win it. It’s obviously going to be a really tough game, but I just hope we can get the right result at home and go through. If second-place is where we end up, then we’ll have to take it and see what happens, but there’s a great opportunity here to get the job done now, at home.

Denmark will know the pressure is on Scotland to get a result, as a draw keeps them top of the group, so they’ll be able to play with an element of freedom.

For Scotland to win, they have to be really clever and play with their heads… fingers crossed we get there, and I think we will get the job done.

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