Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly appointed manager of the Scotland national football team, recently spoke to Sky Sports about the fresh direction he intends to take the side. He emphasized that his first selection features a "good mix" of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, a blend he believes will be crucial as Scotland embarks on a new chapter under his leadership. The Belgian coach arrived in Spain this week for the team's training camp in La Manga, where the squad is preparing under the Mediterranean sun ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixtures. This marks Pocognoli's first face‑to‑face meeting with the players, and the atmosphere has been described as both professional and hopeful.
Among the 26‑man roster, five individuals earned their first full Scotland caps. Notably, Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery was added after the withdrawals of established internationals Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean. The inclusion of Montgomery and other fresh faces reflects Pocognoli's desire to inject new energy while retaining the core experience that has traditionally defined the Scottish side. The international calendar this autumn is unusually generous, featuring four Nations League matches spread over several weeks.
This extended break gives the new manager ample time to work closely with his players, fine‑tune tactics, and begin to imprint his footballing philosophy on the squad. As the successor to Steve Clarke, Pocognoli is keenly aware of the expectations placed upon him and the need to balance continuity with innovation.
"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 told Sky Sports News. He went on to stress the importance of maintaining the team's intrinsic qualities. "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 added. Pocognoli explained that the timing of the change was deliberate.
"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. He highlighted that performance at club level, injury status, and overall form are all factors that influence selection decisions. "It's also performance in your club, injury, and at the same time you need to make the change," he noted, underscoring the pragmatic approach he intends to adopt.
Looking ahead, the manager believes that the foundations laid by previous coaches can be leveraged for future success. "What was provided in the past is massive to use it for the future," he remarked, indicating a respect for the work done before him while also signalling a readiness to evolve. A key theme in Pocognoli's interview was the necessity of balance between experience and youth. "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.
He painted a picture of a unit that operates as a cohesive whole: "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 first test for the Pocognoli era will take place in Ljubljana on Saturday, when Scotland face Slovenia. Three days later, the team will host Switzerland at Hampden Park, a match that will offer a further gauge of the new manager's tactical imprint. After those fixtures, the squad travels to North Macedonia for a game on October 3, before returning to Glasgow for a second encounter with Slovenia on October 6. Scotland's recent history in the Nations League has been mixed.
The side was relegated from League A after a play‑off defeat to Greece last year and now competes in League B. Pocognoli sees this as an opportunity rather than a setback. "There are many ways to be successful," the 39‑year‑old 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." Beyond the immediate results, the manager outlined broader objectives: establishing clear on‑field leadership, integrating young talent, and fostering a sense of unity that resonates with supporters.
"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," he concluded. Below is the full squad list announced by Pocognoli, illustrating the blend of domestic and overseas experience: 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 schedule is 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 tenure promises a period of transition, but also one of optimism. By blending seasoned campaigners with emerging talents, and by emphasizing a clear, collective identity, he aims to restore Scotland's competitive edge and rekindle the passion of its fan base.