SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan believes his side's chances of reaching the 2018 World Cup finals will be boosted by two high-profile end-of-season friendlies with Italy and France.
Strachan is taking his squad to Malta for a summer training camp and has arranged a meeting with the Italians, who will be completing their preparations for Euro 2016, in the Ta'Qali Stadium on Sunday, May 29.
The national side will then travel to Metz to meet France in Stade Saint-Symphorien on Saturday, June 4.
Strachan's side open their World Cup qualifying campaign against the Maltese back at the Ta'Qali Stadium on September 4.
"It is imperative we are ready for the start of the World Cup Qualifiers in September and., while we would rather be playing France or Italy in the European Championships, we must prepare properly against two top-class teams who will be highly motivated ahead of the finals," said Strachan.
"Games like these will provide a focus for our players and the coaching staff. They also give us a chance to show that we are capable of competing in such company, as we did in the recent qualifiers against Germany and Poland.
"The camp in Malta has the additional benefit of allowing us to familiarise ourselves with the facilities before our opening match in September."
Scotland will play the Czech Republic in the Letna Stadium on March 24 and Denmark at Hampden Park five days later. Strachan will select a different squad for each match to run the rule over as many players as possible ahead of the World Cup campaign.
"Selecting two separate squads allows us to maximise opportunities for players to gain international game time, while minimising the time spent away from their clubs at this crunch time of the season," he said. "It is important we give some of our younger players - and those who have maybe not featured as regularly as they would have hoped - some more international experience.
"The opportunity will be there for them to show that they can make that step-up and put themselves into contention for the matches in the summer: games that will naturally be treated with the respect and preparation of full competitive fixtures."
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