Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly appointed manager of the Scotland national football team, told Sky Sports that a fresh approach was overdue and that his inaugural selection already offers a "good mix" of talent. The Belgian coach arrived in La Manga this week, where the squad is training under the warm Spanish sun in preparation for their opening Nations League fixture against Slovenia.
In his first call‑up, Pocognoli introduced five newcomers to the full Scotland side. Among them, Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery earned his debut after the withdrawals of established internationals Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean.
The extended international break – featuring four Nations League matches – provides the new boss with a valuable window to embed his ideas, assess the group, and begin shaping the identity he hopes 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 must remain intact." 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," he said. According to Pocognoli, performance at club level, injury status, and overall form are all factors that dictate selection and tactical adjustments. "What was provided in the past is massive to use it for the future," he added, underlining the importance of building on the foundations laid by his predecessor while injecting new ideas. Balancing seasoned veterans with emerging talent, Pocognoli believes, is essential for continuity and progress.
"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. The manager wants a side that operates as a single unit, both offensively and defensively. "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," he asserted. 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 are currently competing in Nations League B after being relegated from League A following a play‑off loss to Greece last year, and the new manager is eager to restore the team to the top tier. "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. 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 that with results, that's why we do this job, and I would be really happy." Below is the full squad list Pocognoli announced for the upcoming fixtures: 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 schedule for the next few months 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 remarks suggest a pragmatic yet ambitious vision: maintain the core strengths that have defined Scottish football – tenacity, unity, and a clear identity – while integrating fresh talent and modern tactical concepts.
As the team gathers in La Manga, the focus will be on building the chemistry required to compete effectively in League B and, ultimately, to earn promotion back to League A. The coming weeks will reveal whether his "good mix" can translate into cohesive performances on the pitch and reignite the passion of the Scottish fan base.