When Steve Clarke stepped down as Scotland's national team manager, the country's supporters were eager for a fresh direction. Behind the scenes, the new regime promised a revolution, while on the pitch the changes arrived in sporadic bursts.
Sebastien Pocognoli, the 39‑year‑old Belgian appointed as the new boss, brought a brand of football that mirrors his own playing philosophy: forward‑driving, attacking and unapologetically aggressive. Yet his arrival at Hampden Park did not simply echo the expectations attached to a modern, progressive coach; it introduced nuances that many fans had not anticipated. During his first training camp, the Scottish side experienced the full spectrum of results – a convincing win in Macedonia, a disappointing loss to Switzerland on home soil, and a chaotic defeat to Slovenia that combined the good, the bad and the ugly in a single performance.
The Slovenia game, in particular, highlighted both tactical confusion and potential seeding implications for the upcoming Euro 2028 qualifiers. From those four matches, three clear lessons emerged about Pocognoli's approach.
**1. The return of a back three** Pocognoli’s preferred formation – a three‑centre‑back set‑up – was a hallmark of his time at Monaco and Union Saint‑Gilloise, and it naturally resurfaced in Scotland.
The structure itself is not controversial; it simply reflects a system that has served his previous clubs well. The real question lies in how the three‑man defence functions within the Scottish talent pool. For a decade Scotland has relied heavily on full‑backs to provide width, often at the expense of natural wingers. This season, however, the squad includes promising wide players such as 20‑year‑old Ben Gannon‑Doak, alongside Josh McPake and Findlay Curtis.
Pocognoli responded by deploying Gannon‑Doak as a wing‑back, pairing him with captain Andy Robertson, who returned to his traditional left‑back role. The asymmetrical arrangement – a natural winger on one flank and a converted full‑back on the other – was intended to give Scotland more flexibility and allow the team to stretch opponents. In practice, the lack of deep‑running wide forwards made the shape feel more rigid than elastic. When Pocognoli switched to a back four toward the end of the Slovenia defeat, the two pure wingers, Curtis and McPake, immediately injected more threat than their wing‑back replacements, suggesting that Scotland still needs conventional wide attackers to unlock defences.
**2. Experimentation in the attacking block** Pocognoli’s initial three matches featured a 3‑5‑2 formation, with John McGinn playing just behind a pair of No 9 strikers. Against Slovenia he altered the shape to a 3‑4‑2‑1, moving McGinn and Ryan Christie into a more supportive role for Oli McBurnie, who operated as a second No 10. Throughout the camp several forwards impressed – McBurnie, Kieron Bowie and Robbie Ure each showed moments of quality – but it is unlikely that all three will share a regular starting berth.
McGinn, whose penalty against North Macedonia elevated him to joint‑fourth place on Scotland’s all‑time scoring list, is expected to partner returning midfielder Scott McTominay once the Napoli‑based star recovers fully from a minor heart procedure. Their partnership has been a cornerstone of the national side for nearly ten years, and any deviation from that duo will likely be driven by tactical necessity rather than a desire to overhaul personnel. **3. The evolving role of Billy Gilmour** Central to Pocognelli’s vision is a re‑imagined Billy Gilmour.
The 25‑year‑old, who earned his 50th cap during the camp, has transitioned from a deep‑lying playmaker to a more advanced, press‑oriented midfielder. Traditionally praised for his ability to beat the press and dictate tempo from deep, Gilmour was now asked to press higher, use his energy to close down opponents, and employ his technical skill to dissect defensive blocks rather than simply feed the ball forward. This shift is a gamble: positioning him higher leaves Scotland vulnerable to swift counter‑attacks, especially given the relative lack of pace in the back three.
Moreover, Gilmour now bears a dual burden – contributing both defensively and offensively – which can sap stamina over 90 minutes. Despite these risks, many Scottish fans still regard Gilmour as the standout performer of the camp. Whether he ultimately settles at a defensive‑midfield (six), a box‑to‑box (eight) or an advanced playmaking (ten) role, his importance to Pocognoli’s blueprint is undeniable. His versatility offers the coach a valuable tool to adapt to different opponents and match situations.
**Looking ahead** Pocognoli’s first four outings have already sparked debate about the optimal balance between innovative tactics and the traditional strengths of the Scottish side. The back three provides defensive solidity but may need to be complemented by more natural wingers to prevent predictability. The attacking configurations suggest that a single, clear striker may not be the answer; instead, a fluid partnership between McGinn, McTominay and a versatile forward could become the norm.
Finally, Gilmour’s new responsibilities hint at a broader shift toward a more aggressive, press‑centric style that could redefine Scotland’s identity on the international stage. As the team prepares for the next set of qualifiers, supporters will be watching closely to see whether these early experiments evolve into a cohesive, competitive system or remain a series of trial‑and‑error adjustments. One thing is certain: Pocognoli’s tenure has already injected fresh ideas into the squad, and the coming months will reveal whether those ideas can translate into consistent results and, ultimately, a successful campaign for Euro 2028.