PAUL Lambert talked last night of how he wanted Scotland to lay to rest the unwanted tag of glorious losers. The Celtic player said that the national team would be going into the first match against Brazil looking to win the game.

''We have to try and beat Brazil,'' said Lambert. ''I don't want to go to the World Cup and look for draws, hard luck stories, and to be told we played well and lost.

''That is not the right mentality to have. We must go there and try and win and hope we peak at the right time. Going to France to be glorious losers just doesn't come into your head, and such thinking is nonsense.''

Lambert said that the Scottish squad would not suffer from any fear factor going into the Brazil match and were in a confident frame of mind. He said the Scottish attitude of glorifying defeat was anathema in Germany, where he had spent a successful time with Borussia Dortmund.

''The Germans don't have such an attitude and that's why they are so successful,'' said the player. ''They have a mentality that wants to win and that is instilled into you when you play for a German club. You must win and it doesn't matter how you do it because that's what people look for and to accept you are unlucky in defeat is wrong.''

Lambert's comments came as he reflected on an successful 13 months in his career, which dated back to lifting the European Cup with Dortmund, then the Coca-Cola Cup and league championship with Celtic.

Now as he starts his final preparation for the World Cup finals, Lambert talked of his expectation he felt on being given the chance to perform on the world stage. ''The World Cup is the pinnacle for international players, this is the tournament and it doesn't get any bigger,'' he said.

He felt that the two games in America, first against Colombia and then against the USA last week, had instilled confidence in the team. He said the decision by Andy Goram to leave the squad had not affected them and he was pleased to see his Celtic colleague, Jonathan Gould drafted in.

As for the challenge coming from Brazil, Lambert said: ''I'm sure we will hold our own in the game against them. I have no fears going into the match and it doesn't bother me who they have in their starting 11.''

Lambert said that his positive attitude had been instilled in him during his time at Borussia Dortmund and that experience would hold him in good stead during the pressure build-up to playing the world champions in the first game of the World Cup.

''You are taught a different game in Germany than you are in Scotland,'' said Lambert. ''You realise you have to have a higher concentration level and be more disciplined. That experience will help if I play against Brazil and if I am told to man-mark then it isn't a problem.''

Lambert is likely to be part of a midfield which will include Craig Burley and John Collins, in a slightly forward role, which will form the nucleus of the Scotland side.

Their role, according to Lambert, would be to ''fetch and carry, create things, and keep a hold of the ball which is very important for the team.'' Looking at his career to date, the Celtic man said he believed that if he had not moved to Borussia from Motherwell, he would not would have had the chance to play for Scotland in the World Cup.

''My time in Germany has improved my game and my thinking, and because of the quality players I played with there, I have no fears over who the Brazil manager puts out. We will play our own game and try and forget all the carnival atmosphere which is happening around the game.''

Looking to England's chances in France, Lambert said he felt many sectors of their media, which has made them among the favourites, have got it wrong. ''They do not know what is out there and forget it's a different ball game taking on teams at Wembley than what it is taking them on in France. I don't think the England team would class themselves as one of the favourites. As for the Germans they won't be far away.''

Turning his attention to the situation at Celtic, where he, among a number of other players, had been critical of the situation surrounding Wim Jansen's departure, Lambert said it was important that a new manager was installed as soon as possible. ''I don't know what's going on at Celtic, so maybe its better to ask the people at Parkhead what's happening. It's important you think about the World Cup just now and then you can turn your attention to your club.

''I hope that by the time we come back from France there will be somebody in place so that we can get to know him and he can get to know us.''