Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has suggested that playing the likes of Italy and France can only be beneficial for his players ahead of their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.

Strachan watched on as Scotland fell to a 1-0 defeat to Italy last weekend without registering a shot on target but the Tartan Army boss has no regrets in securing two tough fixtures in succession ahead of the summer break.

The 59-year-old is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying: "I am glad we took the four games on, glad we are playing France because I wouldn't like to have left after the Italy game with two days of training. That will be of benefit. Only time will tell if it has helped us to qualify for the World Cup.

"We have had two results, one defeat, one goal against. We would love to have played better football but we are experimenting, finding things out. While other teams are practising for the Euros, we can practice for the World Cup - we are three-quarters of the way through it.

"We have learned so much about the new players and been able to discuss, and get on the coaching field to work on playing against new systems in order to get these problems sorted so that when we come together in late August we are ready for it."

Scotland face Euro 2016 hosts France in Metz on Saturday night.