The nature of this Scotland defeat felt far more significant than the fact it arrived at all. Sébastien Pocognoli is already in tricky territory, just four games into his tenure as Scotland head coach. Slovenia comprehensively outplayed the fragile hosts at Hampden Park, which leaves Pocognoli staring at a third-placed finish in a soft Nations League section. Brave new dawn or beginning of an error?
Scotland were defensively disorganised. Their attacking play was timid. Long before full time, the 39-year-old Belgian had the look of a coach throwing darts blindly at a board. And missing. Wastefulness from Slovenia prevented Scottish embarrassment.
A scathing assessment arrived from the Scotland captain, Andy Robertson, who admitted his team were “outfought”. Robertson added: “They looked a lot fresher, a lot more hungry.”
Pocognoli was more circumspect. “We didn’t play the game we wanted to,” he said. “We were not at the level we expect to be. I will not say everything is perfect or everything is bad but we need to improve many things. We have enough quality.”
A pre-match presentation to Robertson, who reached the 100-cap mark during Scotland’s win in North Macedonia on Saturday, carried wider meaning. Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish, Robertson’s first two Scotland managers, were joined on the Hampden pitch by Steve Clarke. This marked a swift and welcome return to the national stadium for Clarke, who departed the Scotland job in unsatisfactory circumstances following failings at the World Cup. Clarke, bashful by nature, took as significant a bow as was ever likely before supporters.
Scotland find themselves in a post-Clarke state of flux. He was the manager who made this country relevant on the wider stage once again. There was, however, widespread criticism that Clarke’s team lacked ambition. Pocognoli has been charged with not only maintaining at least decent results but also delivering an alternative brand of football. It is a fanciful quest, perhaps.
The first quarter mirrored the opening half when these teams met in Ljubljana. Scotland looked uncertain. Slovenia were perfectly comfortable, not only in a defensive sense but when springing into attack. Adam Gnezda Cerin should have afforded the visitors a 13th-minute lead but failed to connect with appropriate force, allowing Jack Hendry to boot clear when just three yards from his own goal. This venue, which should be an asset to Scotland, was eerily quiet.
Ryan Christie raised the mood. That the goal was horribly ugly mattered not a jot to the Scottish contingent. A short free-kick was played wide to Ben Gannon-Doak, whose deflected cross was headed on to a post by Hendry. Modern football’s madness means Oli McBurnie will be credited with an assist for the header with which he was undoubtedly trying to score. The ball instead landed at the feet of Christie, who tapped home from close range.
Robertson demonstrated his ongoing value before the break. Zan Vipotnik seemed certain to equalise before the Tottenham full-back’s rescue act, courtesy of a sliding block. Ominously for Scotland, Danijel Sturm had totally bamboozled their three-man defence when supplying Vipotnik.
It was impossible to argue Slovenia were not worthy of their equaliser, which arrived 11 minutes after half-time. It came from a Scotland throw-in, where possession was cheaply conceded. Sturm played through the centre and towards Aljosa Matko, who brushed Luis Binks aside as if the Brøndby defender was not even there. The Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn, as is something of a theme, was weak in trying to deal with Matko’s shot. Sturm should have sent Slovenia in front two minutes later but saved the blushes of a hilariously open Scotland defence by shooting over. This had to be alarming for Pocognoli.
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Slovenia were swaggering around their hosts. Pocognoli switched to a back four for the first time in this elongated international window shortly before Matko was denied his second goal of the night by an offside flag. The decision was not at all debatable.
Neither was the goal which took Slovenia ahead. This time Matko turned supplier, having rampaged down the right flank and crossed for the onrushing Sturm. Gunn was left with no chance as Sturm slammed the ball past him. Pocognoli was now subjected to Tartan Army boos.
Findlay Curtis and Josh McPake had penalty claims rejected for Scotland. Desperation had indeed become the order of the day. McPake was at least lively, having stepped from the bench. Too many of his teammates either underperformed or are not cut out for this level. It is up to Pocognoli to source answers, and sharply. This is no patient football domain.
