Sebastien Pocognoli, the freshly appointed manager of the Scotland national football team, told Sky Sports that the moment had arrived for a shift in direction and that his inaugural squad possesses "a good mix" of talent. The Belgian coach arrived in La Manga this week, where his players gathered under the Mediterranean sun to prepare for their opening Nations League fixture against Slovenia. This first training camp marked Pocognoli's initial face‑to‑face encounter with the squad, and it also introduced five newcomers who earned their first full Scotland caps. Among them, Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery was called up after the withdrawals of Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, adding fresh depth to the midfield.
The extended international break, featuring four Nations League matches, grants the new boss a valuable window to embed his ideas and assess his personnel. Replacing Steve Clarke, Pocognoli emphasized the importance of maintaining the team’s traditional strengths while injecting new energy.
"We have plenty of experience in the team, there are some new faces and young lads, and I think we have a good mix," he explained to Sky Sports News. He stressed that balance is essential, noting that Scotland’s identity rests on cohesion and a distinct DNA that must be preserved.
According to Pocognoli, the timing of the change is crucial. "The needed change was at this moment, because we follow the timelines, and the change is just about the things that we want to create on the pitch," he said, adding that club performance, injury status, and overall form all factor into his selection decisions. He also highlighted that the resources and data accumulated under the previous regime can be leveraged to build a stronger future: "What was provided in the past is massive to use it for the future." The manager underscored the role of veteran players in guiding the group. "It's to find the right balance, like I said, so the experienced players will be important to continue to take care of this, and on the coaching staff point of view, we need to be aligned about what we want to achieve together," he noted.
For Pocognoli, unity on the field is paramount: "I want to see a team who are just really together, it's quite basic, attack together, defend together, but that's part of the Scotland mentality." Pocognoli's era officially kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday when Scotland face Slovenia, followed by a home clash with Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later. The schedule then takes the team to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow for a second encounter with Slovenia on October 6. Scotland are currently competing in Nations League B after a play‑off loss to Greece last year that saw them drop from League A, making promotion a key objective.
The 39‑year‑old manager outlined his ambitions for the competition: "There are many ways to be successful. For me, in the Nations League, it's to stay competitive and try to be as much as possible higher in the ranking to go to League A. But just to recognise some principles on the pitch, recognise who are the leaders on the pitch, see some young lads playing, see team cohesion on the pitch.
Also, to get the supporters excited. If we can combine with the result, and that's why we do this job, I would be really happy." Below is the full squad list announced by Pocognoli: Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City).
Defenders: Luis Binks (Brøndby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al‑Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City). Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristi Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers). Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts). The upcoming fixtures are as follows: Slovenia vs Scotland on September 26 at 14:00, Scotland vs Switzerland on September 29 at 19:45, North Macedonia vs Scotland on October 3 at 19:45, Scotland vs Slovenia on October 6 at 19:45, Scotland vs North Macedonia on November 13 at 19:45, and Switzerland vs Scotland on November 16 at 19:45.
Pocognoli hopes that by blending seasoned campaigners with emerging talent, fostering a collective spirit, and delivering attractive football, Scotland can climb back to League A and reignite the passion of its supporters.