Sebastien Pocognoli finally got that first win, didn’t he? After kicking off his tenure with a goalless draw in Slovenia last month, his Scotland squad pulled off their first victory, and first goals, in North Macedonia. That’s huge momentum, especially with the same opponents, Slovenia, rolling into Hampden Park on Tuesday after their own narrow 2-1 defeat to group leaders Switzerland. You’d think Pocognoli would want to run back that winning XI, but a red card means he’s got at least one forced change looming large.
McKenna’s Red Card Forces Pocognoli’s Hand on Defense
What a blow, man. Scott McKenna, the Dinamo Zagreb centre-back, was an ever-present force and then got hit with a red card late in Skopje. That means Pocognoli has to make at least one tweak to a winning formula. With four games in 11 days, fatigue has to be a real concern for some of the veterans on the squad. But the good news? Al-Ettifaq’s Jack Hendry is back from his own suspension, and you’ve gotta expect him to slide right in. He’ll likely be alongside Brondby’s Luis Binks and Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh, who both looked solid in North Macedonia. Stoke City’s Luke Graham even made his debut off the bench and didn’t look out of place, so Pocognoli has some options. On the wings, Captain Andy Robertson, hitting his 100th cap, absolutely bombed down the left, shooting on every sight at goal like a man possessed. He’s a lock to take another step closer to Kenny Dalglish’s cap record, even with Sassuolo’s Josh Doig ready to go. On the right, Bournemouth’s 20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak showed he can track back defensively while also rampaging forward. With this being a home game where Scotland will be pushing the attack, it’d be a surprise if Gannon-Doak isn’t back out there again, despite the specialists like Brentford’s Aaron Hickey, Torino’s Nathan Patterson, and Celtic’s Colby Donovan on the bench.
The Midfield Diamond Remains Untouched, Bowie Shines Up Top
The midfield has been a revelation, right? That diamond has shone bright through the first three games, and it would be a major shocker if Pocognoli messed with that now. The only real question is where Aston Villa’s 31-year-old John McGinn plays in front of Napoli’s Billy Gilmour and Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson. McGinn, who answered his recent critics with that penalty in North Macedonia, is a key piece. Udinese’s Lennon Miller seems stuck on the sidelines for now, and Heart of Midlothian winger Josh McPake and Blackburn Rovers’ Kristi Montgomery are probably in for a longer wait for their debuts. Up top, Sassuolo striker Kieron Bowie is absolutely on fire. His first Scotland goal in North Macedonia? That cements his place in the starting lineup. You love to see it.
So, what’s next? Scotland takes on Slovenia at Hampden Park on Tuesday. This isn’t just another game; it’s about building on that first win, solidifying Pocognoli’s era, and really showing what this new squad can do. Let’s see if they can keep that momentum rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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