Scotland Aims for Redemption Against North Macedonia
Sebastien Pocognoli's debut as Scotland's head coach took a disappointing turn last month with a 2-1 defeat to Slovenia at Hampden Park. Now, the Belgian manager is set for a chance at redemption as his squad gears up to face North Macedonia on Friday, a match you can catch live on BBC.
Scotland is welcoming back key players like Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, and Che Adams for this important Nations League double-header, which will also see them travel to Switzerland on Monday. With the stakes high, fans are eager to see how Pocognoli will shape his starting eleven.
McTominay is primed to make his first appearance under Pocognoli, but the question looms: where will the coach position the Napoli midfielder? The 29-year-old has been playing a deeper role for his club this season, contributing five goals in 11 games.
Pocognoli has primarily used a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation in his initial matches, and it seems likely that McTominay could partner with John McGinn behind a central striker, given their impressive scoring record for Scotland.
In Pocognoli's first four games, Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson formed the starting midfield duo. Will they continue as the preferred pairing, or will Ryan Christie finally get a chance to shine in a position where he has thrived at Bournemouth?
Scotland's width will likely come from wing-backs, despite a shaky start to Pocognoli's tactical preference. Andy Robertson is a guaranteed starter on the left as he approaches the national caps record held by Sir Kenny Dalglish.
On the right, Ben Gannon-Doak has played the last two matches but doesn't naturally fit the role. However, he proved to be a key threat in the previous 2-0 victory against North Macedonia, making him a strong candidate to retain his spot as Scotland expects to dominate possession.
For the tougher encounter against Switzerland, Aaron Hickey could emerge as a solid alternative on the right flank.
Oli McBurnie has featured in all four of Pocognoli's games, earning accolades for his work rate. However, the Hull City striker still searches for his first international goal, having gone 20 caps without finding the net.
Despite his goal drought for Scotland, McBurnie has found his form in the Premier League with two goals in the last three matches. If Scotland opts for two strikers at home against a North Macedonian side that hasn’t scored in eight matches, McBurnie’s spot seems secure.
Conversely, if Pocognoli decides on a single striker, he may lean towards Adams or Kieron Bowie, who netted a stunning goal in their last encounter against North Macedonia. Bowie’s recent lack of playing time at Sassuolo could influence the manager’s decision as well.
