Sebastien Pocognoli hoping Scotland are well prepared for Slovenia clash

Sebastien Pocognoli is looking for his Scotland side to take lessons from Spain into his Slovenia debut on Saturday.

The Belgian boss begins his tenure as the Scots’ national team manager with a new-look squad going in to the Nations League opener in Ljubljana.

In an extended international break, Scotland also face Switzerland at home, North Macedonia away and Slovenia at home.

Pocognoli is expecting a lot from his side who have been preparing all week in La Manga and he pointed out some key attributes.

He said: “Just to have a good attitude, fighting spirit, desire to apply what we worked during the week, and at least to see some moments from that.

“And just stick with the plan and to be committed, but also to be really like brothers, maybe some of the new lads will play for the first time with a commitment between the players, and I hope we can see this.

“I hope that the team on the mental aspect, will be well-balanced, well-focused, well-concentrated in the good moments but also maybe in the challenging moments of the game.

“And I hope to see all the things that we worked through the camp, off the ball and on the ball.”

Hearts forward James Wilson and Rangers winger Findlay Curtis left the squad in order to play for Tony Docherty’s Under-21 team against Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

However, Pocognoli insists they can still have a part to play in the trip to North Macedonia on October 3 and the home game with Slovenia three days later, as does everyone in the group over the four games.

The former Union SG and Monaco boss said: “The two young lads with the Under-21s knew before the camp that it was a possibility.

“Tony, head coach from the Under-21s, was also with us during the camp.

“So for this first camp, this first international journey, we work like a club that also wants to let the young lads play because the Under-21s still have a chance to qualify.

“And when we come back to Scotland, we will see the update of our team, but there is a chance that they come back here.”

First of all, Pocognoli is expecting a tough test from Bostjan Cesar’s Slovenia.
He said: “It’s a good team. We analyse them. They have a new coach from not so long ago.

“So they play at home after missing the World Cup, so I can expect and respect a team with quality, who will try to have a good dynamic in the first game at home.

“So we need to be ready and but I think we have also to focus about ourselves and what we want to produce on the pitch.”