Headline: Scotland’s National Team Prepares for Crucial Match Against North Macedonia
Sebastien Pocognoli’s initial coaching campaign with Scotland concluded on a disappointing note last month, as Slovenia claimed a 2-1 victory at Hampden Park. The Belgian head coach now aims for redemption when his team faces North Macedonia in Glasgow’s southside this Friday, with the match set to be broadcast live on the BBC.
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The Scotland squad sees the return of key players Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, and Che Adams for the concluding Nations League double-header, which will wrap up with a match against Switzerland on Monday.
Fans can step into Pocognoli’s shoes and select their desired starting eleven using our team selector below, as we explore some of the significant selection challenges facing the coach.
Best Set-Up with McTominay’s Return?
McTominay is poised to make his debut under Pocognoli, leaving many to wonder how the Belgian will position the Naples midfielder. The 29-year-old has been playing a slightly deeper role in midfield this season but has still notched five goals in 11 appearances.
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Throughout his first four matches, Pocognoli employed a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation. McTominay might be paired with John McGinn behind a central striker, thanks to their strong scoring record at the international level. Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson filled the central midfield spots during Pocognoli’s earlier games. It remains to be seen whether this pairing is a long-term solution or if Ryan Christie will finally showcase his skills in the midfield role where he has thrived with Bournemouth recently.
Of course, both McTominay and McGinn can also feature in central positions.
Gannon-Doak at Wing-Back?
Wing-backs are likely to provide width, even though Pocognoli’s preferred approach had a shaky start. Advertisement
Team captain Andy Robertson is a guaranteed starter on the left as he approaches the national caps record currently held by Sir Kenny Dalglish. Ben Gannon-Doak started the last two games on the right but may not be ideally suited to the role. Despite this, he proved to be a threatening option during the 2-0 away victory against North Macedonia, and he is expected to retain his position as Scotland aims to dominate possession.
For the tougher matchup against Switzerland, Aaron Hickey seems to be the logical alternative.
Would You Stick with McBurnie?
Oli McBurnie began the first four matches of Pocognoli’s tenure after returning to the squad and received commendation for his tenacity. Advertisement
However, there is a challenge: the Hull City striker has yet to score in 20 caps. But he has found the net in the Premier League, tallying two goals in his last three matches. If Scotland employs a two-striker formation at home against an opponent that has not scored in their last eight outings, his inclusion seems likely. If they shift to one striker, the manager might consider Adams or choose Kieron Bowie, who scored a stunning early goal against North Macedonia in October. Like Robbie Ure at Sevilla, Bowie has recently lost his starting spot at Sassuolo, which could influence the decision.
