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A new era for Scotland has arrived as Sebastien Pocognoli takes charge of his first match, against Slovenia in the Nations League.
The 39-year-old Belgian was something of a surprise replacement for Steve Clarke, who resigned after seven years at the helm following the Tartan Army’s limp group-stage exit from the World Cup this summer.
Pocognoli is expected to shake things up as Scotland try to move away from the conservative team selections and style of play that defined the Clarke era and he’s selected a new-look squad for this first international break, which has games against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia.
The Scots have returned to League B of the Nations League and a clash with Slovenia at Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana will provide an intriguing first test for Pocognoli as he begins the build-up to Euro 2028, where Scotland will be co-hosts.
Follow all the action from Pocognoli’s first game with our live blog below:
Breakdown of the changing nature of Scotland squads
There has been a fascinating transition in where Scottish players ply their club football trade over the past seven years
When Steve Clarke took charge and named his first squad in May 2019, 15 of his 27-man group played in Scotland, with a further 11 from the Premier League or the Championship in England.
By contrast, Pocognoli’s first squad named ahead of the new season of the Nations League features as many names who play in Italy (six) as there are from the Scottish Premiership, and that’s still without the unavailable Serie A-based Scott McTominay and Che Adams.
A sign of the times…
WATCH: Former Scotland boss Steve Clarke abandons post-match interview after just 23 seconds
Let’s hope Sebastien Pocognoli is more amenable to media questions, even in the tough moments…
ANALYSIS: Scotland’s new era is a genuinely bold step into the unknown
Other appointments may have attracted more attention across the increasingly star-studded realm of international managers. It is hardly Sebastien Pocognoli’s fault, though, that unlike Jurgen Klopp or Zinedine Zidane or Thomas Tuchel or Carlo Ancelotti he is not yet a Champions League winning coach, armed with a CV that contains titles and trophies at Europe’s biggest clubs.
At 39, the Belgian is at the start of his managerial career, rather than approaching the end, having overseen just 107 senior games in spells at two clubs, Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco.
But look around the countries embracing a fresh start following the summer’s World Cup and there is an argument that the challenge facing Pocognoli with Scotland is the most compelling of all.
That the Scottish Football Association has embraced the opportunity for a clean slate with such a bold and left-field choice, following seven years of playing safe under the risk-averse Steve Clarke, is notable in itself; Pocognoli has been charged with taking Scotland in a new direction, just at the moment when the options available to the Scotland manager have undergone a drastic change.
Read Jamie Braidwood’s full analysis of an absolutely fascinating hire:
Sebastien Pocognoli ready for his debut
How will Sebastien Pocognoli do things as Scotland boss? It’s going to be absolutely fascinating today.
He took the squad for a walk around Ljubljana earlier today before heading to the stadium
Early Scotland team news
To be honest, we’re shooting in the dark a little bit in terms of knowing exactly how Sebastien Pocognoli will want his team to line up/how to play.
But, in terms of absences, Pocognoli is without Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland, while Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean also withdrew from the squad.
Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has been recalled to the Scotland squad and could make his first appearance since 2021, while Swansea defender Stephen Welsh, Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, Brondby defender Luis Binks, Stoke centre-back Luke Graham, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure have all received their first call-ups.
McBurnie and Ure could feature in the attack, due to absences of Adams, Shankland and Steve Clarke favourite Lyndon Dykes, while Welsh and Binks could come straight into a new-look defence, potentially as part of a back-three.
Possible Scotland XI: Gunn; Welsh, Binks, McKenna; Hickey, Ferguson, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn; Ure, McBurnie
