Sebastien Pocognoli, the freshly appointed manager of the Scotland national football team, told Sky Sports that a change was overdue and that his inaugural selection already boasts a "good mix" of talent. The Belgian coach arrived in La Manga this week to meet his players for the first time, taking advantage of the sunny training environment before the side’s Nations League opener against Slovenia. In his debut roster, Pocognoli handed five players their first full senior caps for Scotland. Among them, Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery was called up after the withdrawals of established internationals Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, highlighting the new boss’s willingness to blend fresh faces with seasoned veterans.
The extended international break, which includes four Nations League fixtures, gives Pocognoli a valuable window to work with his squad, allowing him to imprint his ideas and assess the group 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. He stressed the importance of maintaining the balance that has traditionally underpinned Scotland’s strength – a cohesive unit with a clear footballing DNA.
"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 said. He added that the timing of the transition 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," Pocognoli noted, emphasizing that the shift was not merely cosmetic but aimed at reshaping playing style and mentality.
He cited club performance and injury records as practical factors that influence selection, insisting that the past achievements provide a solid foundation for future progress. "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," he continued. Pocognoli highlighted the role of experienced players in guiding younger teammates, while also stressing that the coaching staff must be aligned around shared objectives.
"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 said. The new manager’s philosophy is simple yet ambitious: a united team that attacks and defends as a single organism, reflecting the traditional Scottish mentality.
"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 affirmed. Scotland’s first match under his leadership will be in Ljubljana on Saturday against Slovenia, followed by a home clash with Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later. The itinerary continues with a trip to North Macedonia on October 3, before returning to Glasgow for a second encounter with Slovenia on October 6.
The team is currently competing in Nations League B after being relegated from League A following a play‑off loss to Greece last year, so Pocognoli’s immediate aim is to secure promotion back to the top tier. The 39‑year‑old manager outlined his broader 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 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, showcasing the blend of experience and youth across all positions: 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 scheduled as follows: Slovenia vs Scotland on September 26 at 2 p.m., Scotland vs Switzerland on September 29 at 7.45 p.m., North Macedonia vs Scotland on October 3 at 7.45 p.m., Scotland vs Slovenia on October 6 at 7.45 p.m., Scotland vs North Macedonia on November 13 at 7.45 p.m., and Switzerland vs Scotland on November 16 at 7.45 p.m.
Pocognoli’s tenure begins with a clear mandate: to preserve the core qualities that have defined Scottish football while injecting fresh ideas and a renewed competitive edge. By blending veteran leadership with emerging talent, and by ensuring that the coaching staff shares a unified vision, he hopes to reignite the passion of the supporters and guide Scotland back to the upper echelons of European competition.