Slovenia v Scotland Preview: Can Scotland's New Dawn Win in Ljubljana?
Slovenia v Scotland Preview: Can Scotland's New Dawn Win in Ljubljana?
Pre-Match Build-Up
After the disappointment on the pitch of another group stage exit at a major tournament, Scotland are back in action and with a new manager in the dugout.
Welcome, Sébastien ✍️
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) August 16, 2026
Sébastien Pocognoli is your new Scotland Men’s National Team Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/J1t0pJhdUt
Just hours after Scotland's elimination at the World Cup, Steve Clarke shocked many by announcing his resignation as the National Team manager just a few weeks after signing a new four year contract. The SFA took around 50 days to appoint his successor, with many in the Scottish media and the fanbase believing that an interim boss would take charge for the UEFA Nations League matches in September and October. But in mid August, Sébastien Pocognoli was named the new head coach signing a two year contract. Since his appointment there has been nothing but high praise for Pocognoli and Craig Mullholland, the SFA's Chief Football Officer, who led the search for Clarke's successor. But both know that high praise and good talk can only last whilst results on the pitch are postive.
Whilst the UEFA Nations League will not be the huge priority that Pocognoli will be judged upon as head coach, these games are important for UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying pots. Finishing either first or second in the UEFA Nations League Group B1 means Scotland will officially be a pot two team for Euro qualifying, but finishing third or fourth means it's pot three for Pocognoli and company. Scotland do have the luxury, as do all the Euro 2028 host countries, of having reserve spots if they do not finish in the top two of their qualifying group, but two major tournament qualfications in a row and two top two finishes in a row Scotland will be hoping not to need these reserve spots come November next year.
Viewpoint from Slovenia
Slovenia, currently ranked 56th in the World Rankings, have played 20 games since being knocked out of UEFA Euro 2024, but their record does not make for good reading with only six wins in the last two years with only two being at home in the Stožice Stadium and in FIFA World Cup qualifying finished third without a win on the board.
Saturday marks Boštjan Cesar's first competitive game in charge of his country, the 44-year-old is Slovenia's most capped player of all time. Since his appointment in January 2026, Slovenia defeated Montenegro in Podgorica and drew at home to Cyprus but lost to both Hungary and Croatia however both games were narrow losses for Slovenia.
Scotland will be facing one of the best goalkeepers in European Football, Jan Oblak is expected to make his 85th cap for Slovenia on Saturday and the new look forward line will need to be at their best to get past the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. But Slovenia will be without Manchester United's Benjamin Sesko, who has 16 goals in 45 caps, with an injury and he is one of three injury blows for Boštjan Cesar who will also be without Niko Prelc and Zan Zaletel.
The New Look Scotland
SCOTLAND SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT! 🏴⚽
— Football Park Scotland 🏴 (@FP_Scotland) September 15, 2026
Sébastien Pocognoli has named his first Scotland squad... pic.twitter.com/dSouKNtQS3
Pocognoli knew that he would have to change things around in the Scotland Team personal wise, Scotland had one of the FIFA World Cup's oldest average squads so freshening things up was a key priority for the new head coach. But there is injury issues for Pocognoli who is without star midfielder Scott McTominay after heart surgery earlier in the month, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland was starting to show the goalscoring form that took him to Ibrox but after an injury v Motherwell he will miss four months of the season. Torino's Ché Adams' has been scoring spectular goals in Serie A but suffered an addutor injury before Pocongoli named his first squad. All three however should still be key figures to Pocognoli when back fit.
Pocognoli has certainly freshened things up: Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Luke Graham, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake, Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh have all earned their first callups for Scotland. There's recalls for Scott Bain, Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Billy Gilmour, Oli McBurnie, Lennon Miller and James Wilson.
Meaning Lyndon Dykes, Tyler Fletcher, Grant Hanley, George Hirst, Dominic Hyam, Anthony Ralston and Ross Stewart all missing out along with McTominay, Adams and Shankland all missing through injury along with Kenny McLean and Kieran Tierney who dropped out with injuries before Scotland's pre-game camp in Spain.
Scotland Squad Update.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) September 21, 2026
IN: Kristi Montgomery.
OUT: Kenny McLean & Kieran Tierney.
🎟️ https://t.co/ay7oj2Tsgp pic.twitter.com/fdLdllrMp5
Blackburn Rovers' Kristi Montgomery has been promoted from Tony Docherty's U21s squad to make up for McLean's injury. Findlay Curtis and James Wilson being re-assigned to the U21s as they both were expected to not feature on Saturday, but both should be expected back into the senior team later on in the International Window.
A new look squad and certainly it should mean a new style of play. Pocognoli's style at Union Saint-Gilliose and at Monaco has been based around aggressive pressing and fast tempo but the new head coach admits that it could take a few games for his style to effectively come through. Pocognoli has already admitted that he already knows his starting XI and his formation v Slovenia, with many believing that his trusted three at the back formation to be the way he will go v Slovenia.
But even if it's not to be three at the back, there's room for different shapes and formations as the Scotland squad he has for these fixtures are flexible to rotation. Even if is to be the trusted back three, it should be fine for a majority of the Scotland team who have already played the shape under Steve Clarke. The challenge however will be the shape with a new style of play.
Notable Milestones
Saturday's game v Slovenia could see a number of players earn their first Scotland caps; Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Luke Graham, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake, Kristi Montgomery, Robbie Ure and Stephen Welsh are all hoping to get the first of many for their country on Saturday.
It will be cap number thirty for Nathan Patterson, should he feature v Slovenia. 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 also earned three caps at the FIFA World Cup.
A goal for Scotland. A goal for ALL OF SCOTLAND! 🏴🏴🏴
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 14, 2026
John McGinn fires his nation ahead against Haiti! #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/2otuUub0oh
The big milestone should come to Aston Villa captain John McGinn, the midfielder is expected to earn cap number ninety in Ljubljana. McGinn has been a mainstay since his first cap v Denmark in March 2026, he played the whole of the game and was named player of the match as Gordon Strachan's side won 1-0 in a friendly at Hampden. McGinn, who is now the National Team vice-captain, has scored 21 goals in 89 caps and became the oldest Scottish men's player to score at the FIFA World Cup back in June.
Predicted Team
The big question now is who will start for Scotland in Ljubljana?
We believe that Pocognoli will go for his trusted three at the back shape and will go for two up front v Slovenia on Saturday. This means that the team could be anyone of anybody but we have gone for a mixed of the trusted and experienced players along with some new caps on Saturday.
Football Park Scotland's Predicted Scotland XI:
Gunn, Welsh, McKenna, Binks, Hickey, Gilmour, Ferguson, Robertson (C), McGinn, Ure, McBurnie
Match Officials
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic (Romania)
Assistant Referees: Valentin Avram (Romania), Alexandru Cerei (Romania)
Fourth Official: Szabolcs Kovacs (Romania)
Video Assistant Referee: Cătălin Popa (Romania)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Marcel Birsan (Romania)
Horațiu Feșnic Season Stats
Games in Charge: 10
Yellow Cards Shown: 55
Straight Red Cards Shown: 2
Second Yellows Shown: 1
Penalties Awarded: 1
Match Details - Where Can I Watch / Listen To Slovenia v Scotland in the UEFA Nations League?
The UEFA Nations League - starts Saturday 26th September on BBC iPlayer with Slovenia v Scotland.#NationsLeague on BBC iPlayer 👉 https://t.co/p2ZiYeGLhQ pic.twitter.com/eEPUO8QHZ9
— BBC Scotland (@BBCScotland) September 23, 2026
Slovenia versus Scotland is live on BBC One from 13:45 in the UK, with a 14:00 kick-off. You can also watch live 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.
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