Zlatan beat Denmark, says Strachan

GORDON STRACHAN believes there is only one reason why Denmark are not the second of four Euro 2016 participants helping Scotland prepare for the World Cup campaign — Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Group A winners Czech Republic lost to Scotland last Thursday, and there are games against powerhouses Italy and tournament hosts France looming at the end of the domestic season.

But, like Scotland, the Danes must mark time with friendly games after they lost to neighbours Sweden 4-3 on aggregate in a play-off last November, with Ibrahimovic providing three of those goals.

‘If you saw their play-off games, the reason Denmark are not there and Sweden are is Ibrahimovic,’ said Strachan.

‘Denmark should really have been three or four up before he scored.

‘The Danes, as a whole, are better than Sweden. But they have Zlatan. He scored a free-kick curling round the wall, did a back flick from a corner that shouldn’t have been on and was generally magnificent.

‘For Denmark, Christian Eriksen is a wonderful player. They have good players similar to ourselves in that the front three can rotate a bit.

‘They have a solid back four with the full-backs who go on. It’s a modernday shape with good fitness. I’m bemused as to why they are not at the Euros but they just came up against a player who is world class.’

Tuesday evening at Hampden will be much more about potential for Scotland than world-class heroes.

Leeds’ Liam Cooper, Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Burke, John McGinn of Hibs and Celtic’s Kieran Tierney are in the frame for their first caps.

In addition to the untested, Strachan will ease back in Steven Whittaker, Steven Fletcher and Shaun Maloney. Dundee goalkeeper Scott Bain will again back up Craig Gordon because of David Marshall’s illness.