Honeymoon over as Pocognoli's Scotland suffer domestic disharmony
Scotland's national football team suffered a disappointing defeat against Slovenia, raising questions about manager Sebastien Pocognoli's tactical flexibility. The team struggled defensively and failed to maintain momentum throughout the match at Hampden.
Why it matters
National team performance is a significant cultural issue in Scotland, and the manager's tactical decisions are under intense scrutiny following the loss.
Figure caption, Highlights: Scotland 1-2 Slovenia
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer at Hampden Published 7 hours ago On a dismal night at Hampden when Scotland failed to ask enough questions of Slovenia, there are one or two that could be posed to new boss Sebastien Pocognoli and his players.
We knew Pocognoli was a disciple of three at the back - the issue being whether he was rigid or flexible in his philosophy, whether he was a bit of an ideologue or a coach capable of changing things on the hoof.
Well, he changed it, that's for sure. Maybe not early as he should have, but at 1-1, and then when Slovenia took a deserved 2-1 lead, Pocognoli switched formation and personnel, not out of design but out of desperation, you felt.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in