Saturday 5 September 2015 13:52, UK
Stefan Klos expects more suffering for Scotland as in-form Germany look to continue building momentum when the teams meet at Hampden Park on Monday night.
Former Rangers goalkeeper Klos, who joined in 1999, spent eight years at Ibrox after a Champions League win with Borussia Dortmund and also won two caps for the Germans after 17 at U21 level.
He is back in Glasgow and will take in his old side's Championship clash with Raith Rovers this weekend before the European Qualifier between his home nation and his adopted one.
Scotland go into the crucial preliminary fixture off the back of a surprise 1-0 defeat to Georgia – the side ranked 147th in the world – in Tbilisi.
Germany, on the other hand, defeated Poland 3-1 in Frankfurt to record their fourth competitive win in a row after a slow start to the campaign in the aftermath of their World Cup win last year.
And Klos, now 44, expects his countrymen to take another step towards next summer's finals in France at a venue where he enjoyed Scottish Cup and League Cup success with Rangers.
"Everything is possible in football but it is difficult to see Scotland winning on Monday night," Klos said. "The German team is very confident, very strong.
"It will be the toughest game Scotland will have in the last three games, it will be really tough as Germany are hot favourites.
"They had a slow start to the campaign but the players didn't have a long break after winning the World Cup.
"I think it is understandable that they started the way they started but now they are all focused, they can see the target, France, next summer.
"The players want to finish top of the group and they don't go anywhere and think, 'we are happy to get a point'.
"Until last night I think Scotland had quite a good chance to qualify. One game can change a lot, for good and bad.
"I think yesterday was a step back. They have three games to go so it is still possible (to qualify) but it is going to be tough."
Hampden is a 50,000 sell-out, with home fans snapping up tickets in optimism ahead of the damaging defeat in Tbilisi that leaves Scotland fourth in Group D.
Klos thinks the full house will only inspire Joachim Low's visitors and added: "Hampden is a special atmosphere.
"But the players are used to playing in front of 80,000 and even more. I don't think it will be a problem for them.
"They will be encouraged by the crowd. Players from abroad love to play in Scotland because of the atmosphere. Even if the fans are against you, it is still a good atmosphere."
