Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, told Sky Sports that a fresh approach was overdue and that his inaugural selection already showcases a "good mix" of talent. The Belgian coach is meeting his players for the first time this week, training under the warm La Manga sun as they prepare for their Nations League opening fixture against Slovenia. His initial roster includes five debutants who have earned their first full Scotland caps, and the squad was further bolstered by Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery after the withdrawals of Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean.
The extended international break – featuring four Nations League matches – provides Pocognoli with a valuable window to embed his ideas, assess the group and begin shaping his legacy as the successor to Steve Clarke. "We have plenty of experience in the team, there are some new faces and young lads, and I think we have a good mix," Pocognoli explained to Sky Sports News. "We need to make sure that the balance stays right, and to keep what makes the Scotland team really strong, it was the cohesion and really proper DNA in the team, and this needs to stay." He emphasized that the timing of the change was 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. It's also performance in your club, injury, and at the same time you need to make the change. What was provided in the past is massive to use it for the future." Pocognoli stressed the importance of blending seasoned veterans with emerging talent.
"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. 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." The Pocognoli 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 squad to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow for a second encounter with Slovenia on October 6. Scotland were relegated from Nations League A after a play‑off loss to Greece last year and will compete in the second tier this campaign.
Pocognoli, 39, outlined his objectives for the tournament. "There are many ways to be successful," he said.
"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." He added that success hinges on several pillars: tactical discipline, leadership on the pitch, the integration of younger players, and the overall cohesion of the group. "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 Hotspur), 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 slated as follows: - Slovenia vs Scotland – 26 September, kick‑off 14:00 - Scotland vs Switzerland – 29 September, kick‑off 19:45 - North Macedonia vs Scotland – 3 October, kick‑off 19:45 - Scotland vs Slovenia – 6 October, kick‑off 19:45 - Scotland vs North Macedonia – 13 November, kick‑off 19:45 - Switzerland vs Scotland – 16 November, kick‑off 19:45 Pocognoli’s mandate is clear: blend the proven core with fresh energy, maintain the traditional Scottish grit, and nurture a collective spirit that can propel the nation back to the top tier of European competition.
By fostering unity, encouraging attacking cohesion, and safeguarding defensive solidity, he hopes to deliver performances that not only satisfy the tactical demands of modern football but also reignite the passion of the Scottish fanbase. The journey begins in La Manga, but the real test will unfold on the pitches of Ljubljana, Glasgow and beyond as the new manager seeks to write the next chapter in Scotland’s football story.