Robertson rant and the wrong system? Pocognoli’s Scotland start raises questions

There has been no new manager bounce, Ben Gannon-Doak is playing in an odd position and the wider plan looks flawed Scotland are staring at a third-place finish in Group B1 of the Nations League, which will have repercussions for their seeding in Euro 2028 qualifying. More striking, though, was the general standard of performance over Sébastien Pocognoli’s first four games as manager. Scotland were dismal for a half in Slovenia before a decent but scoreless recovery. They capitulated after an early sending-off against Switzerland, failing to register a shot on target in a meek 3-0 loss. North Macedonia were as poor an international team as Scotland have faced in recent times, rendering the 2-0 win in Skopje worthy of little more than a shoulder shrug.

Pocognoli’s men rounded off this extended window by being played off the Hampden Park pitch by Slovenia. Andy Robertson, the captain, strikingly questioned the attitude of his teammates. There has been no new manager bounce. Pocognoli was given only a two-year contract, which was odd given the pedestal he was placed on by the Scottish Football Association when hired in August. The likelihood remains host-nation status will secure the