With the hope of promotion to League A, a back route for Euro 2028, and a chance to set out our stall under a new manager, how will Scotland fare in the Nations League campaign?
The Nations League fixtures are not to be sniffed at. These matches afford the manager a chance to change the style of play, integrate new players and get the Tartan Army onside. In Scotland’s group, certainly, there is no better chance to bag three points and cement our return to League A.
With our Nations League match less than 24 hours away, will this be the match that gets the ball rolling in a winning direction for the Scots, with Sebastien Pocognoli heading into the Scottish dugout for the first time?
Will a change of style and personnel take some getting used to? Absolutely. But are our opening-game opponents, Slovenia, there for the taking? One hundred percent!
Whilst Slovenia possess quality players, with many plying their trade in La Liga, Serie A and the Premier League, when they all come together for the national team, something doesn’t quite click — mainly evidenced by the fact that they have only won two of their last 11 games.
They certainly don’t lack quality players; that much is evident. They are also a very compact team, which can be difficult to break down. However, their attack becomes predictable. All one team has to do is block the space in behind, and they struggle to create chances. Despite enjoying possession, they have a tendency to produce little in the way of attacking threat, making for a low-scoring and, ultimately, less entertaining tie.
Slovenia currently sit 56th in the FIFA rankings, which is lower down the table than Scotland, so we already have the upper hand. However, Slovenia wear their hearts on their sleeves, and failing to qualify for the World Cup has made them more determined to perform to the standard expected of their nation. In short, they are hungry for some national success.
They aren’t opponents we face very often, unlike some. This is the first time in nearly 10 years that Scotland have faced Slovenia, and it’s the first time in over 20 years that we have beaten them in an away fixture. We have only faced this side five times previously, with four of those games coming as World Cup qualifiers.
On paper, it’s a game that Scotland are expected to win, and the excitement is sky-high, with anticipation bubbling underneath. The ultimate question, then, is: who makes the starting eleven?
Sebastien’s Selection
The head coach has named a very different side from the usual Scotland set-up, and that’s for the better. Fresh faces often lead to fresh ideas, and new concepts and styles of play can muster results. In order for Scotland to succeed at any level, the almighty task of selecting a starting eleven for Slovenia must be undertaken, and here are the eleven players who I feel could all get the nod.
This starting eleven suggestion is based on a 4-2-1-3 formation, with McGinn and Ferguson as defensive midfielders and Gilmour slotting in behind the front three.
Between the sticks, Jon McCracken certainly deserves an opportunity. He’s playing regular football with Bradford City and looks a solid performer. McCracken offers a bit of versatility in the net, equally being a great shot-stopper while also possessing a wide range of passing and the comfortability to play out from the back. If you need a final reason to trust the 26-year-old, the 6’3” goalie has five clean sheets in seven games for his club. He may be an unlikely choice, but this is the era of opportunity for new players.
Up next is the back four. It’s time to shake up the usual personnel in front of the keeper and add a bit of differentiation to the line-up. Obviously, it can’t be changed on an unprecedented scale; however, Luis Binks and Stephen Welsh are definitely in with a shout of starting together. Both play regular football for their clubs and have a similar style to one another — both are comfortable in possession, can spray passes around and are both a physical aerial threat.
To balance out the freshness of both aforementioned players being uncapped for Scotland, I’d naturally have captain Andy Robertson at left-back to steady the ship, as well as Aaron Hickey slotting in at right-back. Both don’t particularly need a reason to play, as they understand what’s expected in a Scotland jersey.
For me, the three midfielders may come as no surprise. All have featured for Scotland on various occasions and wear the shirt with pride. Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn and Billy Gilmour all provide stability within the midfield, with so many fresh faces being tipped for an opportunity. As defensive help, Ferguson and McGinn could be asked to sit back as holding players, with the ability to create a 4-3-3 formation when required. Gilmour, on the other hand, can slot in behind the striker as a more creatively minded player. Gilmour holds the ball up well, much like McGinn, which only aids the offensive threat.
The front three is the ultimate conundrum, with so many of the selected squad in form. However, for me, Josh McPake should start on the left, Oli McBurnie through the middle and Ben Gannon-Doak on the right.
McPake is superb every time he pulls on a Hearts jersey and is menacing every weekend down that left flank, leaving defenders in his wake or giving them the runaround. He epitomises the energy and quality Scotland have often lacked.
McBurnie is no stranger to the Scotland squad, and his goal contributions speak volumes, scoring 19 across the season for Hull City. He’s the goal threat Scotland have been crying out for over the past four or five years — a player who knows where the net is and is clinical in front of goal.
Gannon-Doak needs no introduction. Every time he steps onto the pitch for Scotland, he is a breath of fresh air, with his athleticism and skill commanding the attention of the Tartan Army. His pace and ability to hold the ball are every defender’s nightmare.
These eleven players are not the only ones who could be given their chance. Many are interchangeable with others, which speaks to the versatility and calibre within the squad. Would I like to be in Pocognoli’s shoes when picking a line-up? NO, but I’ve had my say.
The manager has selected plenty of players who deserve to don the national jersey, and fortune favours those who grab their chance with both hands. Only time will tell how Scotland will fare under the leadership of Pocognoli with overcoming Slovenia as his first test.
To watch the starting eleven selection Tik Tok video follow the link below: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN8rLb9wT/
