Shaun Maloney has branded Scotland ’ s crunch end-of-season clash with Ireland as ‘ colossal ’ — and vowed that Gordon Strachan ’ s men are capable of leaving Dublin with three more crucial points on the road to Euro 2016 . The goalscoring hero when the two nations met last November at Parkhead , Maloney believes the pressure will be off the scale when the Celtic nations collide for the return at the Aviva Stadium on June 13 . The Scots currently lie in third place in Group D , one point behind leaders Poland , level with world champions Germany and two points ahead of the Irish . Scotland currently lie in third place in Group D after Saturday 's 6-1 victory over Gibraltar . It has been a hugely encouraging opening five games to the qualifying campaign as Scotland aim to reach the nation ’ s first major finals since the 1998 World Cup in France . And Maloney insists Strachan ’ s side can grab the win that would all but end Ireland ’ s hopes of reaching France next year if they reprise their form against the Irish four months . ago . However , he admitted Scotland ’ s 3-1 home defeat to England four days later serves as a reminder not to let standards slip . ‘ The Ireland game in June is going to be absolutely colossal , ’ said Maloney , who now plays with Chicago Fire in America ’ s Major League Soccer . Scotland have enjoyed a hugely encouraging opening five games to the qualifying campaign . ‘ The pressure on both sides will just build and build as we get closer . But I think we can go there and win the game . ‘ However , we have to know that we can also lose it if we are not as good as we have been in recent games . ‘ Look at our game against Ireland in November and the Poland away game when we drew 2-2 . We played well and got results . ‘ But then look at the England match , when we were a little bit off it . The better side defeated us . ‘ So we have to be very aware of why we have got ourselves into this position and what we need to continue doing. ’ Maloney insists Scotland ’ s ability to handle the intense pressure ahead of that first Ireland match in Glasgow and to emerge with a fine win was a key moment in the development of the team under Strachan . Shaun Maloney was the goalscoring hero when the two nations met last November at Parkhead . And he warned it will be the turn of the Irish in June to see if they can handle the heat of what is now a must-win match for Martin O ’ Neill ’ s side . ‘ The pressure when we played Ireland at Celtic Park was huge , ’ said Maloney , whose two goals in Scotland ’ s 6-1 win over Gibraltar on Sunday leaves him as the highest scorer in Strachan ’ s squad with a total of six . ‘ It was a pressure for a match ( against Ireland ) that I hadn ’ t felt for a long time . So for the team to cope with that was a pretty big step . ‘ I think we ’ ve made some pretty big steps in the last 18 months . But that was probably as big a one we ’ ve made as a group of players for a while . ‘ The pressure will now be magnified for the Irish being at home and it ’ s a brilliant game to be involved in . ‘ I have learned , though , that they are only brilliant if you win them . They sound great on paper , but they are not that enjoyable when you don ’ t win . '
Scotland seeking to reach first major finals since the 1998 World Cup . Currently in third place in Group D after 6-1 victory over Gibraltar . Scotland face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 13 .