Sébastien Pocognoli’s start as Scotland manager has turned rocky. Four points from three Nations League games had looked an adequate return until Slovenia inflicted this defeat at Hampden Park, and it was the abject nature of Scotland’s display that was so stark. Pocognoli’s team were comprehensively outplayed by opponents who are themselves no better than functional, and Slovenia’s second-half comeback — through Aljosa Matko and Danijel Sturm — overturned Ryan Christie’s opener.
Before kick-off, Hampden staged a presentation to mark Andy Robertson reaching 100 caps, a landmark he had brought up during Scotland’s win in North Macedonia on Saturday. Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish, Robertson’s first two Scotland managers, were joined on the pitch by Steve Clarke, a swift and welcome return to the national stadium for a man who left the job in unsatisfactory circumstances after failings at the World Cup. Clarke, bashful by nature, took as significant a bow as he was ever likely before supporters, and Robertson’s warmth towards him was clear.
Scotland now find themselves in a post-Clarke state of flux. Clarke was the manager who made the nation relevant on the wider stage again, yet his team drew widespread criticism for a lack of ambition. Pocognoli has been charged not only with maintaining at least decent results but with delivering an alternative brand of football, and it remains to be seen whether that dual quest is fanciful. November already feels significant for him; he has to prove this is the dawn of a new era rather than the beginning of an error.
The opening quarter mirrored the first half when these teams met in Ljubljana. Scotland looked uncertain and ragged, while Slovenia were comfortable not only defensively but when springing into attack. Adam Cerin should have given the visitors a 13th-minute lead but failed to connect with appropriate force, allowing Jack Hendry to boot clear from three yards out. A venue that should be an asset to Scotland was eerily quiet.
Ryan Christie raised the mood, and that the goal was horribly ugly mattered not a jot to anyone of a Scottish persuasion. A short free-kick was played wide to Ben Gannon-Doak, whose deflected cross ended with the ball reaching Christie, who flicked it home from close range; Oli McBurnie was credited with an assist. Christie, of Bournemouth, looks set to be a bigger asset to Pocognoli than the manager initially appeared to realise, and here he supplied breathing space.
Robertson demonstrated his ongoing value before the break. Zan Vipotnik seemed certain to equalise until the Tottenham left-back produced a sliding block to rescue his side. Ominously for Scotland, Sturm had totally bamboozled their three-man defence when supplying Vipotnik.
It was impossible to argue Slovenia were not worthy of their equaliser, which arrived 11 minutes after half-time. It came from a Scotland throw-in, with possession cheaply conceded; Sturm played through the centre towards Matko, who brushed Luis Binks aside as if the Brøndby defender was not there, and the goalkeeper Angus Gunn was weak in trying to deal with Matko’s shot. Sturm should have sent Slovenia in front two minutes later but shot over, sparing the blushes of a hilariously open Scotland defence.
McBurnie’s withdrawal meant 20 caps have now come and gone for the Hull striker without a goal, but with 70 minutes played that felt like the least of Scotland’s worries. Pocognoli switched to a back four for the first time in this elongated international window shortly before Matko was denied a second goal by an offside flag, a decision that was not debatable. Neither was the goal that took Slovenia ahead: Matko turned supplier, rampaging down the right flank and crossing for the onrushing Sturm, who slammed the ball past Gunn, who was left with no chance. For the first time in his brief tenure, Pocognoli was subjected to boos from the Tartan Army.
Findlay Curtis and Josh McPake were denied claims for Scotland penalties, with McPake lively after stepping off the bench. Too many of his teammates either underperformed or are not cut out for this level, and it is up to Pocognoli, and sharply, to source answers.