Scotland Men's Football Team

Image source, SNS

Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli tells BBC Scotland: "We didn't deserve to get the win, that's the reality. We didn't deliver a great game. On the ball and off the ball we were below the level we expect.

"We were not proactive enough, on and off the ball. Probably the structure off the ball needs to be more proactive, front-footed to push the line higher.

"On the ball we were not clever enough. We were far from strong enough in the duels.

"It's a process about being brave, trying to defend forward and we were not compact in our defensive shape.

"The reality is each game teaches us some information. We will try to go through the process we want and learn from this one and do better in the next one."

Image source, SNS

• Scotland have never lost against Slovenia in six previous meetings (W2 D4), keeping four clean sheets.

• Slovenia have never scored an away goal against Scotland, drawing 0-0 in September 2004 and losing 1-0 in March 2017, both times in World Cup qualifiers.

• Scotland were beaten 3-0 by Switzerland in their last home game - they haven't lost back-to-back competitive home games since June 2019 when they were defeated by Russia and Belgium.

• Slovenia have just two wins in their past 13 matches in all competitions (D6 L5), with defeats in four of their past seven away games (W1 D2).

• Scotland have won seven of their past eight matches against nations outside the top 50 of the Fifa rankings at the time of the game (D1), while they are unbeaten in their past 17 competitive games against those nations (W14 D3).

• Scotland have received a red card in each of their past two matches, as many as their previous 122 games combined. They've conceded 45 fouls in this season's Nations League, more than any other side in Group B1.

• John McGinn has scored 22 goals for Scotland, the joint fourth most alongside Lawrie Reilly; only Denis Law (30), Kenny Dalglish (30) and Hughie Gallacher (23) have more.

Image source, SNS

Bostjan Cesar believes his Slovenia side will have to play a "fantastic" 90 minutes to get a result against Scotland on Tuesday night.

The 44-year-old's team sit second in Nations League Group B1, ahead of the Scots on goal difference and having drawn 0-0 with Tuesday's hosts in Ljubljana last month.

But the former Slovenia and West Bromwich Albion centre-half points out that Sebastien Pocognoli's side played in League A last time round, albeit then under Steve Clarke.

"The way Scotland play, we need to be very disciplined and we need to have a fantastic 90 minutes to match them," Slovenia's head coach said.

"We need to find a balance with our attack and defence, we need to be together defending our goal and we need to be successful in attack.

"That's our wish and, if we are lucky, maybe we'll succeed. But the defence has to be strong.

"This match is very important to us, but of course there are more matches to play and we want to keep in the competition as long as we can."

Leeds United centre-half Jaka Bijol is expecting another physical test against a Scotland side who looked the much stronger side after the break in Slovenia.

"Coming to this stadium, it is going to be quite competitive because Scotland showed they are a good side," he said.

"Their style of football is such that it is going to be quite difficult for us, the way they run and with their fitness."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been speaking to the media before Scotland host Slovenia in the Nations League on Tuesday - live on the BBC.

Here are the key lines:

• Pocognoli said his first win against North Macedonia on Saturday has given the squad "a boost" and that the victory was "important to make sense" of the work he and his staff are doing with the players.

• After a draw against Slovenia and a defeat by Switzerland, the Scotland boss said his team played with "a lot of frustration" at the weekend but "used it in the right way".

• The Belgian stressed there is still a lot of improvement to come and emphasised that the players have to approach Tuesday with the "same ideas and same attitude". He again wants to "combine the style of play and the result".

• "After three weeks together everything has to be better," he said. "We still have a lot to improve."

• Rangers' Findlay Curtis is available to Pocognoli after being drafted back into the senior set-up. He hailed the winger's performance in Scotland Under-21s' 5-2 victory over Azerbaijan last week, during which Curtis set up four goals.

• On future squad selections, Pocognoli said he will "try to be logical in terms of what I see" and reiterated that his first squad was "regarding the style of play". He added he would "keep some stability and build on" his first camp.

• The Belgian again played down concerns about his team wasting chances: "That's life... You look for the positive or look for the negative. We create more chances, that's positive with a new group. Tomorrow I hope we can still create chances."

• And on Billy Gilmour, who is set to win his 50th cap on Tuesday at Hampden, Pocognoli said: "He's playing very well since the first day of the camp. I hope tomorrow he can continue this. We try to play football he likes because he is really involved."

Image source, Getty Images

The result of Tuesday's visit to Hampden Park will probably decide second place in Nations League group B1, Slovenia assistant head coach Milivoje Novakovic believes, and he hopes his side's "greater fighting spirit" will win the day against Scotland.

Sebastien Pocognoli's hosts sit third behind the Slovenians on goal difference, with Switzerland five points ahead after winning all three of their games.

"Switzerland is the favorite of this group, but they needed a lot of luck to score the two goals they scored against us," former Cologne striker Novakovic said of his side's 2-1 defeat in Luzern on Saturday.

"We are very satisfied with our work, but we still need some time. With time, we will achieve consistency."

Novakovic pointed to a late chance of an equaliser missed by striker Zan Celar against the Swiss that might "even involved us in the fight for the top of the group".

"We have a new match on Tuesday, which will probably decide second place," he said.

"If we look at where our players play and theirs, the difference is clear. The Scots play in very good clubs, so I say that we are not the favorites.

"But they do not have the atmosphere that has adorned Slovenia for several years - desire, fighting spirit, attitude towards the jersey."

Fellow assistant Aleksandar Radosavljevic wants Slovenia to repeat their first-half performance in the goalless home draw with Scotland, their second half against the Swiss and the 90 minutes that produced a win over North Macedonia, while also being more clinical with the chances they are creating.

Cal Gilkison
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, EPA

Former Scotland right-back Stephen O'Donnell has hailed Andy Robertson's character and strength to continue operating at the top level after the captain won his 100th cap in Saturday's victory over North Macedonia.

The Tottenham Hotspur left-back became only the second Scotland men's player to reach the milestone and is now just three games away from making history by becoming the country's all-time appearance holder.

"His achievements speak for themselves and relay his professionalism," former international team-mate O'Donnell told BBC Radio Scotland. "To continue to have the drive to do it speaks volumes about his character.

"One hundred caps is absolutely ridiculous. I think to get that from a Scotland player is incredible. It shows the level of consistency he has and the standard he has operated at for a long time."

Before John McGinn's penalty put Scotland two goals up on Saturday evening, the Tartan Army chanted Robertson's name in the hope the captain would take the spot-kick.

Robertson joked after the match that he had not been too keen to take the penalty with the game still in the balance - and O'Donnell agreed.

"If we were three or four up, I wouldn't have minded," the Motherwell defender added. "But, at that point, I was just thinking: 'Let's get a second and maybe get another couple'.

"I wasn't too emotional at that point to try to get Andy to take it. I don't know if Andy even wanted to take it."

Image source, SNS

John McGinn was "magnificent" as he proved his doubters wrong in Scotland's 2-0 win in North Macedonia, according to brother Stephen.

The Aston Villa midfielder scored a penalty to complete the scoring in Skopje as Sebastien Pocognoli secured his first win as head coach.

"It was a biggie last night," Falkirk coach Stephen told BBC Scotland. "North Macedonia were coming into it with troubles of their own.

"Obviously we got off to a nightmare start the other night with 10 men against a really good side [losing 3-0 to Switzerland].

"So we needed to win and I thought they were excellent.

"I've been a Scotland fan all my life and following John for 90-odd caps and that was as convincing a win and performance as we've had, so there's lots to be positive about."

Some had suggested that the former St Mirren midfielder's brother had not been performing at his best in recent games for his country.

However, Stephen added: "John's had criticism throughout his career. He's had his doubters and sometimes that's when he's at his best - he wanted to prove a point last night and I thought he was magnificent.

"I am biased obviously, but I thought he was everywhere and I had no doubt for him at the penalty.

"I've been doubtful about some of his penalties in his career, but I knew in my mind he was going to tuck it away."

Scott Mullen
BBC Sport Scotland in Skopje

Image source, SNS

Patience is now paying off for Luis Binks after an eye-catching start to his Scotland career.

The 25-year-old Brondby captain has played in the last two games for Sebastien Pocognoli and turned in a stellar performance in Skopje for Scotland's 2-0 Nations League win over North Macedonia.

Despite having represented both England and Scotland at youth level, the Kent-born centre-half told BBC Scotland there was only one nation he wanted to play for.

"I always felt at home playing for Scotland," he said. "It felt like you were playing with your mates.

"I never spoke to the Scottish FA, or the old manager, but I just knew, if I carried on playing how I was playing at my club, and developing how I was, then there would be eyes [on me].

"I knew there was a bit of a pathway.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind because obviously it's my first camp and I came into it not really knowing how I'd fit in or if I'd play.

"To play the last two games is brilliant for me and my development - and I always said, when you're around good players and experienced players, it makes you better."