Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli has called for a significant improvement from his team following their opening Nations League fixtures. The side's recent 2-1 home defeat to Slovenia on 6 October left them needing to win their final two matches to have a realistic chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Pocognoli acknowledged a grace period for his players to adapt to a new system and style of play, but stated that time is now up. "We need to improve," the manager said. "The first camp was to get to know each other. I saw things in training and in the games, we produced some very good moments."
He pointed to the team's goal minutes as a key area for focus, noting that the squad has averaged a goal every 135 minutes of play across the campaign so far, a rate he deems insufficient for the level required. The immediate task is to improve that efficiency in their next match, the return fixture against FYR Macedonia at Hampden Park on 13 November. Scotland must win that game to keep their playoff hopes alive, with the full fixtures list showing it as the next critical step before a final group decider.
Scotland's campaign under Pocognoli began with a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia on 26 September. They then suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to Switzerland at Hampden Park, a match where defender Jack Hendry was sent off early. A 2-0 victory in Skopje against FYR Macedonia on 3 October, with goals from Kieron Bowie and John McGinn, provided a boost before the disappointing reverse against Slovenia. That result means Scotland's form over the last four games reads one win, one draw, and two defeats.
With key players like Che Adams, Scott McTominay, and Kieran Tierney back in the fold, Pocognoli believes the squad has the quality to progress. "These players bring stability. I’m pleased with this selection because we feel we have a good mix," he stated. He also highlighted the return of several other experienced heads who have integrated well during the recent training sessions, adding depth and competition for places ahead of the key November double-header.
The manager stressed that while adaptation takes time, the demand for higher performance is immediate. "That needs a little bit of time, but it doesn’t mean we can’t now ask for more and reach the level we want," Pocognoli added. He concluded by reiterating that the team's objective remains clear: to secure maximum points from the remaining fixtures and fight for a place in the Nations League playoffs for League A next March, a goal that hinges entirely on translating their chance creation into a much higher number of goals.
Read the full report at The National Scot
