Scotland’s first international window under Sebastien Pocognoli ended with a 1-2 home defeat by Slovenia at Hampden, a result that leaves their hopes of topping the Nations League group and winning promotion to League A in tatters and points to a likely third-place finish and a tougher draw for the next European Championship. Slovenia came from behind to win, and the loss followed a 2-0 victory in North Macedonia earlier in the window. It also meant back-to-back competitive home defeats for the first time in seven years. Pocognoli, 39, now has two concluding Nations League games next month—at home to North Macedonia and away in Switzerland—to find answers.
The immediate debate was whether Scotland were out-fought or out-thought. Captain Andy Robertson said they had been “outfought,” while Pocognoli referenced not being strong enough in duels. BBC Radio Scotland pundits saw something deeper. Andy Halliday described Slovenia as “really compact, really organised. Off the ball, on the ball, so energetic, so industrious, willing to run forward, willing to play forward” and said that was everything Scotland were not on the night. Leanne Crichton said Slovenia “effectively critiqued and analysed Scotland from last week and have played them off the park.” Willie Miller felt both elements were present: “In many departments, they were bullied, they were schooled in certain moments.”
The system is central to the inquest. Pocognoli has stuck with what is believed to be his preferred formation—three central defenders with two wing-backs playing high up the park. It had teething problems in the first half of last month’s goalless draw in Slovenia before an improved second half, and judgement was suspended after the 3-0 home defeat by Switzerland because of Jack Hendry’s early red card. The plaudits returned after the convincing 2-0 win in North Macedonia. Now the concerns are back.
Crichton and Halliday are not big fans of a back three. Crichton’s main worry is how open it leaves Scotland out of possession, with Slovenia again exposing the spaces behind the wing-backs. Halliday sees Pocognoli’s version as “fairly positive” out of possession, often becoming a back four when one wing-back jumps as a winger and the other tucks in as a full-back. But his issue is in possession: “the lack of penetration and runs in behind. If you play that box midfield and the amount of players Scotland play centrally then you have to be able to play through the centre of the pitch.”
Miller questioned whether Scotland’s defenders are comfortable in a back three. “You are asking the two wing-backs to be absolutely way up the park,” he said. “For me, the three centre-backs are exposed and don’t know how to play the system. He’s had time to work with the system, but it was just all over the place. It was unbelievably poor.”
Central midfield has long been a strength for Scotland, but the latest showing featuring Billy Gilmour, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn and Ryan Christie left Halliday “so deflated.” He said Scotland had “nine players centrally and got so dominated in the middle of the pitch for 90 minutes,” and could not make sense of a performance in which they were disjointed about when to press, sit in shape or try to shadow passes into midfielders. “At no point did I think we were dialled into what we were trying to do,” he said. Off the ball, he felt Scotland have looked good in spells under Pocognoli; on the ball, he is still struggling to see what they are meant to be.
Crichton believes “about 50% of the team is capable of dominating the opposition” but that the system breaks down without certain profiles elsewhere. “If you are not clinical up front and not ruthlessly defending your box, you are always going to be in a dogfight,” she said. “That’s where Scotland find themselves more often than not.” Miller agreed, saying: “We were full of enthusiasm – front-foot football. But you’ve got to revisit it.”
Wing-back is another issue. There had been a clamour from fans and pundits to squeeze Ben Gannon-Doak into the starting XI after impressive cameos, but Crichton believes the role does not suit the young Bournemouth winger. “I could tell within 10 minutes it wasn’t going to be a good night for him because his first touch wasn’t there,” she said. “Outwith his cross for the goal, his contribution was very minimal. For me, to have Aaron Hickey on the bench is astonishing because he is one of the top performers as an attacking full-back.”
The dilemma is that Gannon-Doak’s cross led to Ryan Christie’s goal, and the 20-year-old has been highlighted in recent games as one of Scotland’s few sources of real pace and ability to break down a defence. Halliday argued: “I don’t see a successful Scotland without wingers on the pitch. I don’t see us creating chances otherwise.” Scotland ended the game with wingers Josh McPake and Findlay Curtis after Gannon-Doak was withdrawn.
Loyalty is also under scrutiny. Gilmour earned his 50th cap and Robertson reached 100 in Skopje on Saturday, but even the stalwarts were questioned after the Slovenia defeat. Halliday said John McGinn and Ryan Christie were not involved in the game, and hopes Scott McTominay’s return from a minor heart operation will provide an extra spark in central midfield. Crichton wondered whether too much loyalty was being shown “to certain players who have been there for a long time.”
In goal, Angus Gunn has made the jersey his own since Craig Gordon wound down his career, but the spotlight is again on the recent San Jose Earthquakes signing, who was criticised for two of the goals lost to Switzerland. “For me, a top goalkeeper saves that first goal,” Halliday said of the Slovenia match. “It’s not right in the corner. It’s not hit with a lot of pace.”
Pocognoli now faces hard thinking before next month’s final Nations League games at home to North Macedonia and in Switzerland. Halliday said he had thought the head coach would need “a period of grace” coming into this camp, but added: “I think that period of grace is now over. That was as poor a Scotland performance as I can remember for a while against an opposition you are expecting us to go and beat.” Crichton believes Pocognoli knows that unless he starts winning, “he’s going to find himself under immense pressure and he will not get time to build a team.” Miller struck a similar note: “It is very early in the new manager’s reign and he is bringing younger players in. But, at the same time, we thought he was going to come in with a system he had perfected – that was the noises coming from Pocognoli. The question is, where do we go from here?”