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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. His first starting XI sees debuts for Swansea defender Stephen Welsh and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure, while Hull City striker Oli McBurnie will make his first appearance since 2021.
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:
CLOSE! Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 14 mins
Slovenia probably should score. Scotland playing a high line but Sturm gets in behind down the left.
He puts a nice low cross in, Sorar gets ahead of his man six yards out but his flick flies wide of the far post. He really has to do better but Scotland survive, for now.
Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 12 mins
Anotehr warning for Pocognoli’s men as Matko is in plenty of space down the right and fizzes a low cross into the six-yard box that Hendry does brilliantly to lunge and clear away. Sturm was waiting to turn that in
Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 10 mins
I’d say that McBurnie is more out on the left than directly up front alongside Ure and McGinn shaded out to the right, so perhaps it is more of a 3-4-3 than the 3-4-1-2 that it appeared.
NO GOAL! Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 8 mins
Well that’s a huge let-off for Scotland! Slovenia slice them apart as Sturm gets away in space down the right, cuts the ball back to Sporar and it’s a beautiful first-time finish, in off the post.
But the flag’s up! Sturm was indeed offside as he broke clear initially.
Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 5 mins
Slovenia have started brightly here but Angus Gunn has confidently claimed a couple of balls in the air.
Scott McKenna then gives the ball away but Welsh gets his body across Matko and wins the free-kick.
Sebastien Pocognoli watching intently

Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 3 mins
The other debutant also gets an early touch, Robbie Ure defending the free-kick and clearing into touch.
Slovenia 0-0 Scotland, 2 mins
Scotland in their away red kits today. It’s a nice look. Slovenia in white.
Jack Hendry wipes out Sturm with an early lunge, giving the hosts a free-kick about 35 yards out. Lifted into the box and debutant Stephen Welsh nods it behind for a corner to be safe.
KICK-OFF! Slovenia 0-0 Scotland
A couple of minutes late but we’re underway in Ljubljana! The Sebastien Pocognoli era has begun!
Scotland team news
The teams are trotting out on to the pitch in Ljubljana, so there’s just time to remind you how Scotland line up for their first game under Sebastien Pocognoli.
There are two debuts as Swansea center-back Stephen Welsh starts in a back three, while Sevilla’s Robbie Ure is up front, in a two alongside Oli McBurnie, who makes his first Scotland appearance since 2021.
We thought it might be McBurnie OR Ure, so it’s exciting that both start.
Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson are the wing-backs in what appears to be a 3-4-1-2 formation, with John McGinn in the 10 role you’d think.
Scotland XI: Gunn; Welsh, Hendry, McKenna; Hickey, Ferguson, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn; Ure, McBurnie

No Sesko for Slovenia
As for this afternoon’s opponents Slovenia will be without Man United striker Benjamin Sesko through injury but the experienced Andraz Sporar of Slovan Bratislava (who has scored 13 goals in 68 internationals) starts, being preferred to Swansea City’s Zan Vipotnik in attack.
Slovenia legend Jan Oblak also starts in goal and captains the side. It feels like he’s been around forever, and he’s made more than 500 appearances for Atletico Madrid, but he’s still ‘only’ 33 years old. Not a bad final line of defence to have



