Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly appointed manager of the Scotland national football team, told Sky Sports that the moment had finally arrived for a fresh direction, emphasizing that his inaugural selection boasts 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. In his very first squad, Pocognoli handed five players their first full senior caps for Scotland. Among the newcomers is Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery, who was called up after the withdrawals of Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean opened a spot in the defensive line.
The extended international break, which features four Nations League matches, gives the new boss a valuable window to embed his ideas, assess the squad, and begin shaping the team that will succeed 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 – the cohesion and the proper DNA – and that has to remain intact." He added 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 about performance at your club, injuries, and the broader strategic picture. What was provided in the past is massive, and we can use it as a foundation 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 three days later by a home clash with Switzerland at Hampden Park. After those matches, the squad will travel 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 League B for this campaign.
Pocognoli, now 39, outlined his objectives for the competition. "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 back to League A." He continued, "We need to recognise the principles on the pitch, identify the leaders, give the young lads a chance, and maintain team cohesion.
And, of course, we want to get the supporters excited. If we can combine good results with that excitement, that's why we do this job and 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 schedule for the upcoming Nations League fixtures is as follows: - Slovenia vs Scotland – 26 September, kickoff 14:00.
- Scotland vs Switzerland – 29 September, kickoff 19:45. - North Macedonia vs Scotland – 3 October, kickoff 19:45. - Scotland vs Slovenia – 6 October, kickoff 19:45.
- Scotland vs North Macedonia – 13 November, kickoff 19:45. - Switzerland vs Scotland – 16 November, kickoff 19:45. Pocognoli's early comments underline a clear philosophy: preserve the core strengths that have defined Scottish football – unity, work ethic, and a collective identity – while injecting fresh ideas and giving promising youngsters a platform to prove themselves on the international stage. As the team settles into his system during the La Manga camp, fans will be watching closely to see whether this "good mix" can translate into improved performances and a swift return to the top tier of the Nations League.