Paul Lambert played 40 times for Scotland

Scotland need to stop living in the past when it comes to the national team, says ex-midfielder Paul Lambert.

It has been 20 years since Scotland appeared in the finals of a major men's tournament - and Lambert thinks it is time to lower expectations.

"This is the team we've got and we have to support them to try to get them through," said Lambert, who played at the 1998 World Cup.

"Forget what's happened in the past, we're not there any more."

Lambert, who won 40 caps and lined up against Brazilian greats Ronaldo and Rivaldo at France 1998, hopes supporters can stick with the side as they fight to qualify for finals.

Fewer than 20,000 turned up at Hampden to watch the Scots lose 3-1 to Portugal in a friendly just three days after a 2-1 defeat by Israel in the Nations League put more pressure on boss Alex McLeish.

"We have to try and rebuild," said former Stoke, Norwich City and Aston Villa manager Lambert. "And if fans can go with it and get through this period hopefully it will get better, because it's not great at the minute.

"The expectance levels - I think we've got to lower that now."

The former Motherwell, Celtic and Borussia Dortmund player hopes there will not be a "knee-jerk reaction" from the Scottish FA when it comes to McLeish, who has overseen six defeats in the eight games of his second spell in charge.

"There's nobody else there. We're not in a good place at the minute but he's doing all he can to get better."

Scotland need to beat Israel to keep alive hopes of topping their Nations League group, with a trip to Albania and a home tie against the Israelis coming next month.

However, Lambert thinks Scotland must get a result when they go to Albania on 17 November to maintain morale - before they host Israel three days later.

"We have to win," he said. "If we don't beat Albania then you don't know what will happen."