Scotland's Under-21s will play a double-header of friendlies in Spain next month against Ukraine and the United States. The matches, set for November 12 and 15 at the Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, mark the first steps for the side under new manager Tony Docherty.
Docherty took over from Scot Gemmill, who had been in charge for a decade. The new boss said his tenure had "got off to a flying start" after overseeing friendly wins over Azerbaijan and Bulgaria. Those victories, however, were not enough to secure a play-off spot for the Euro 2027 Finals.
The senior side's recent results provide a mixed backdrop. Scotland's last outing was a 2-1 home defeat to Slovenia on October 6, where Ryan Christie scored the consolation goal. Their form over the last four matches reads one win, one draw and two losses. This sequence includes the 2-1 loss to Slovenia, a 2-0 away win over FYR Macedonia on October 3, a 3-0 home defeat to Switzerland on September 29, and a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia on September 26. In the victory over FYR Macedonia, goals came from Kieron Bowie and John McGinn.
Ahead of those Nations League games, there is uncertainty over the availability of key midfielder Granit Xhaka. The 54-cap star is a major doubt for the upcoming double-header, with his fitness under review. His potential absence would be a significant blow to the senior squad's preparations. The senior team's next competitive fixture is at home to FYR Macedonia on Friday 13 November.
For the Under-21s, the focus is firmly on the Spanish camp. The games against Ukraine and the USA offer a chance to build cohesion after missing out on the Euro 2027 play-offs. The squad will then return as the senior team concludes its Nations League group stage.
Read the full report at Glasgow Times
