Scotland v Switzerland Preview: Can Pocognoli Win On Hampden Debut?
Scotland v Switzerland Preview: Can Pocognoli Win On Hampden Debut?
Pre-Match Build-Up
Scotland arrive back home in Glasgow and at the National Stadium after a positive display away in Slovenia, despite not getting what would have been a deserved win in Sébastien Pocognoli's debut as Scotland Head Coach. A 0-0 draw which seen Slovenia dominate, without creating too many chances in the first-half but after a tactical switch at half-time Scotland dominated the second-half but could not find a way past the impressive and experienced Jan Oblak.
🗣️ "𝑾𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝑻𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓."
— Football Park Scotland 🏴 (@FP_Scotland) September 26, 2026
Sébastien Pocognoli admits that Slovenia's formation surprised everyone but managed to adjust the team's shape at half-time.
Pocognoli is happy overall for what he seen in his first game in charge as Scotland Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/mgfS1UWM5d
Still there was more positives than negatives in Ljubljana; the midfield duo of Lewis Ferguson and Billy Gilmour were very impressive together, Stephen Welsh looked impressive in his debut on the left side of a back three, Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson, as expected, done well in creating chances and running up on the wing in support and Ben Gannon-Doak put in a display worthy of a start against the Swiss on Tuesday Night.
The only issue was a lack of a goal which would have been deserved, Oli McBurnie and substitute Kieron Bowie had second-half chances and Robbie Ure, on his Scotland debut, hit the post in the first-half. But the Tartan Army have not seen Scotland dominate a game, in particular the second-half, in sometime: 17 shots, 5 of which on target, 2.16 Expected Goals (xG) with Oblak making five saves which kept the scoring down. If Scotland continue to dominate, keep the ball and keep their shooting boots on, which results in goals, then wins will definitely come under the Belgian.
Viewpoint from Switzerland
Switzerland arrive at Hampden ranked 14th in the World Rankings and had an impressive World Cup in North America, finishing in the quarter-finals after being eventually knocked out by finalists Argentina in Kansas City which was their first in the final eight of the FIFA World Cup since 1954.
They started their UEFA Nations League campaign on the back of a 3-0 win over North Macedonia in Skopje. Olympiacos midfielder Remo Freuler and Burnley's Zeki Amdouni with the goals for Murat Yakin's side, with Amdouni scoring a brace.
The Swiss do arrive without two key players to Glasgow; Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo were left out of the International Break after being sanctioned for using forged COVID-19 test certificates to avoid mandatory vaccinations during the pandemic.
🚨 BREAKING:
— SCOTBALL 🏴 (@scotball_) September 21, 2026
Big news coming out of the Switzerland camp ahead of the upcoming Nations League matches.
Swiss captain Granit Xhaka will not be present in the national team camp after a criminal investigation was opened against him over suspicions he obtained a fake COVID-19… pic.twitter.com/WMOKV0PHZJ
Both are key, in particular Xhaka who is the Switzerland captain, but the showing and display against North Macedonia showed that they have done a good job without them so far. But Switzerland will know that in the shape of Scotland, they will face their hardest game in the group especially being away from home at Hampden Park.
Even without Xhaka and Embolo, Switzerland still have quality in their squad with the likes of Inter Milan's Manuel Akanji, Borussia Dortmund's Gregor Kobel, Nottingham Forest's Dan Ndoye along with Saturday's goalscorers of Freuler and Amdouni in their ranks.
Switzerland's preferred shape is with a back four, in particular a 4-3-3. But Yakin is known to experiment with a 4-4-2 and sometimes results in playing a 3-4-3 on occasions that they believe they are going to be facing a team stronger to them in certain areas of the pitch. Switzerland have got several strengths which they have relied upon in recent years: wing efficiency, crucial passing between the lines.
Any Changes To Scotland XI?
Against Slovenia, Pocognoli sticked to his trusted 3-4-1-2 formation from his Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco days and it worked effectively well aside from not getting on the scoresheet. The midfield duo of Lewis Ferguson and Billy Gilmour ran the second half and suited each other really well and it could be said that the two will be Scotland's long-term midfield duo for years to come. Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson putting in a good shift on the wide areas and were being assisted in their defensive duties by Jack Hendry and Stephen Welsh, who played either side of Scott McKenna in defence.
🗣️ "He's the type of player we miss in modern football."
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) September 26, 2026
Sebastien Pocognoli was impressed with Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour as Scotland began their Nations League campaign with a draw away to Slovenia.#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/U3X2rdIL6b
We expect that against Switzerland Pocognoli will stick to his formation again trying to do excatly the same as they did in Slovenia from around the 35th minute mark onwards. The only question will be does he start Ben Gannon-Doak and if so where? Gannon-Doak is naturally suited on the wing but can play as a number 10 but we think Pocognoli could throw a curve ball against Switzerland and that he will start Gannon-Doak upfront alongside Oli McBurnie, with at times Gannon-Doak drifting into the right supporting Aaron Hickey and John McGinn in the number 10 role drifting to the left supporting Andy Robertson at times. We expect this to be the only change from the match against Slovenia with the likes of Robbie Ure, Kieron Bowie on the bench and in support if need be.
Football Park Scotland's Predicted Scotland XI:
Gunn, Hendry, McKenna, Welsh, Hickey, Gilmour, Ferguson, Robertson (C), McGinn, Gannon-Doak, McBurnie
Notable Milestones
BOOM 💥
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 12, 2021
Nathan Patterson puts Scotland in front against Moldova!
Moldova 0-1 Scotland
📺 Watch live on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/1UZ2OQTinY
It will be cap number thirty for Nathan Patterson, should he feature v Switzerland on Tuesday Night. The Torino defender earned his first cap in the pre-UEFA Euro 2020 friendly over Luxembourg in June 2021 and his only Scotland goal came against Moldova in November 2021 in a 2-0 win for Steve Clarke's side. Patterson did not feature v Slovenia on Saturday so will have to wait to get his thirtieth cap which could come against the Swiss.
After first caps for Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh on Saturday, the likes of Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Luke Graham, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Kristi Montgomery are all anticipating earning their first Scotland cap if selected at Hampden on Tuesday.
Previous Meetings
Tuesday's match against Switzerland will be Scotland's 18th match against the oppenents but it will be first time that they will feature in either a World Cup Qualifying / European Championships Qualifying / UEFA Nations League match against Scotland since the 8th of September 1993.
🗓️| 𝐎𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲
— Football Park Scotland 🏴 (@FP_Scotland) June 18, 2026
𝟭𝟴/𝟬𝟲/𝟭𝟵𝟵𝟲: 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭-𝟬 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱
A stunning strike from Ally McCoist gave Craig Brown’s side a win at the European Championships
This would remain Scotland’s last win at a major tournament until five days ago pic.twitter.com/8VYPZFJEy4
Since 1993 they have met three times since then; the first was at UEFA Euro 1996 when Ally McCoist score a spectular winner against the Swiss at Villa Park in Birmingham, the second was the only time Switzerland have ever won at Hampden as they won 3-1 in March 2006 and the final time was again at the European Championships when Scott McTominay put Scotland ahead in Cologne but Switzerland equalised when Xherdan Shaquiri equalised for Murat Yakin's side.
Scotland v Switzerland: Head To Head Record
Total Games Played: 17
Scotland Wins: 8
Draws: 4
Switzerland Wins: 5
Scotland Goals: 27
Switzerland Goals: 25
Games v Switzerland at Hampden: 8
Scotland Wins v Switzerland at Hampden: 5
Scotland Losses v Switzerland at Hampden: 1
Scotland Win Percentage: 47.06%
Match Officials
Referee: Nenad Minakovic (Serbia)
Assistant Referees: Nikola Borovic (Serbia), Bosko Bozovic (Serbia)
Fourth Official: Milan Mitic (Serbia)
Video Assistant Referee: Momcilo Markovic (Serbia)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Aleksandar Zivkovic (Serbia)
Nenad Minakovic's Season Stats
Games in Charge: 7
Yellow Cards Shown: 40
Straight Red Cards Shown: 1
Second Yellows Shown: 1
Penalties Awarded: 1
Match Details - Where Can I Watch / Listen To Scotland v Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League?
Scotland versus Switzerland is live on the BBC Scotland channel and on BBC Two for the UK from 19:30, with a 19:45 kick-off. You can also watch via the BBC iPlayer and on the BBC Sport Website.
There is also full radio coverage and commentary on BBC Radio Scotland available on 92 - 95 FM and 810 MW and available on the BBC Sounds app.
Harry Pascoe 
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