Wolfgang Niersbach, the president of the German Football Association, has acknowledged that his national side must deliver better results or risk failing to qualify from Euro 2016 Group D.

He is convinced too that one of the most significant match for his side will come at Hampden next year.

The world champions returned from Brazil as heroes but several of their triumphant squad have since retired, while other integral players have missed qualifiers as a result of injuries. Germany have registered a win, a draw and a defeat in Group D.

They visit Scotland in September three days after Gordon Strachan's side return from a troublesome trip to face Georgia in Tbilisi. Germany will come up against Poland in the first match of a September double-header and Niersbach believes their subsequent trip to Glasgow could also be of great importance in deciding which teams reach the finals. "We are aware that the noise that followed us after Brazil has faded very quickly," he said. "It is clear that our games next September at home to Poland and away to Scotland will be very important for qualifying. We have four points from three games and if we continue like that, we won't qualify.

"People say we have not taken it seriously because of the increase in qualification. But we were very unlucky with injuries in Poland and the Ireland draw was frustrating. Let's wait until this time next year before assessing the campaign."