Sebastien Pocognoli will take charge of his first Scotland home game on Tuesday when Switzerland visit Hampden Park in the Nations League. The match in Glasgow is scheduled for 19:45 BST and is live on the BBC, following an encouraging goalless draw away to Slovenia in Pocognoli’s opening fixture.
Pocognoli, who is Belgian, named eight uncapped players in his first squad, two of whom – Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh – started in Ljubljana. Ben Gannon-Doak and Kieron Bowie were the only substitutes used as Scotland dominated the second half but could not find a breakthrough. Switzerland represent a big step up in opposition, so Pocognoli may be tempted to tweak his selection in Glasgow.
Defensively, Scotland used three centre-backs on Saturday, with Jack Hendry and Welsh flanking Scott McKenna. Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey operated as wing-backs, asked to supply crosses for the attacking duo of Oli McBurnie and Ure. There were worrying signs in the opening 45 minutes in Slovenia as the hosts routinely got in behind Scotland’s high line. However, it is unlikely the new boss will abandon that defensive strategy so early in his reign. “We had a lot of good movement through the side, through the lines and we should have scored to be honest,” Pocognoli said after the goalless game. “But the counter-press was good, the high [line] of the defence was good, just because the position of the players was better [in the second half]. Clean sheet, that’s also positive, but we want to win.” Uncapped pair Luis Binks and Luke Graham are the other centre-halves in the squad, so there is a good chance the same trio starts again.
Further forward, Gannon-Doak was introduced with just over 10 minutes and added menace to Scotland’s attack. Although he replaced Hickey, the Bournemouth winger is not an obvious fit at wing-back, raising the possibility that Pocognoli could use his pace up top rather than go with two strikers. With four Nations League matches across 11 days in this window, utilising the squad will be key. Hearts winger Josh McPake could also add a different dimension to the front line after a bright start to the season for Hearts.
In midfield, John McGinn started as a number 10 in Slovenia and was rather subdued, but his experience, running power and goal threat make him such a key player for Scotland. Billy Gilmour was Scotland’s stand-out performer on Pocognoli’s debut and really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half. He was part of a double pivot with Serie A colleague Lewis Ferguson but took up a more advanced role after the break, popping up regularly around the edge of the penalty box. Ryan Christie offers relentless energy and can fit in just about anywhere in midfield. Under Steve Clarke he did not get many chances in the middle of the park, where he has done so well for Bournemouth.
Up front, Kieron Bowie, Robbie Ure and Oli McBurnie are the striker options, and all three are in good form and confident. Ure and McBurnie are yet to score for their clubs this term, but both showed in flashes why Pocognoli gave them starting nods. McBurnie, who dropped a little deeper after half-time, is the oldest and comfortably the most experienced of the three but has yet to score after 17 caps. He should have done better with a chance against the imposing Jan Oblak, who pinched the ball off his feet. Ure was described as “elegant” and showing “effortless” movement by Pat Nevin during the game, and he contested 18 duels, the most of any Scotland player. The strike that crashed off the post on the stroke of half-time was the closest he came to a goal. Off the bench with roughly 20 minutes to go, Bowie was a smart addition too; the Sassuolo forward should have put Scotland ahead when he pulled a strike wide of the post. Any of the three named on Tuesday evening will be welcomed after their hard-working display in the opening game.