Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has insisted that his team’s problems require a tidy-up rather than radical change, after a mixed maiden camp that ended with back-to-back Hampden defeats.
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli (Credits: BBC Sport)
Pocognoli Defends Scotland’s Progress After Disjointed Maiden Camp
Pocognoli, 39, has won only one of his first four matches in charge. After a promising start — a dominant Nations League draw away to Slovenia and a 2-0 victory at North Macedonia — Scotland slumped to a 3-0 home defeat to Switzerland and were then outfought by Slovenia at a two-thirds-full Hampden.
Captain Andy Robertson admitted his side were “outfought” and “simply not good enough,” sparking questions about approach, systems and squad make-up ahead of a decisive double-header against North Macedonia and Switzerland this month.
Scotland’s Nations League Stakes and the Road to Euro 2028
Scotland sit third in Nations League Group B1. They need a minimum of four points from the final two games to have any chance of finishing second and reaching the promotion play-offs, while one point would stave off relegation.
Beyond that looms the “big job” — qualification for Euro 2028, which Scotland are co-hosting with England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. The qualifying draw takes place in Belfast on December 6, with group fixtures starting in March. Pocognoli named his latest squad with the returns of Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Kieran Tierney, plus a first call-up for Rangers’ James Penrice.
“The main word is continuity,” the Belgian insisted. “We want to just continue the good things we showed in Slovenia and North Macedonia… and to try to clean some situations. There’s no reason to change everything because I was happy with the camp.”
Also Read: Scotland Squad: McTominay, Tierney and Adams Return as James Penrice Earns First Call-Up
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.