Sébastien Pocognoli grimaced on Friday when recalling his debut as an international player for Belgium. Alessandro del Piero and Italy discovered favourable opposition when preparing for the 2006 World Cup. Pocognoli will also look back, in time, at his first game as the manager of Scotland.
Blue skies, a dainty stadium in Ljubljana and a second-half display that provided glimpses of optimism in respect of Scotland’s world, post-Steve Clarke. The best-forgotten first 45 minutes can be explained away by a squad operating under a new regime. By full time, Slovenia were grateful for their point.
Scotland’s players took deserved applause. Scotland’s failing here was a familiar one. A lack of goals haunted Clarke.
Nonetheless, this version of Scotland did at least create a series of openings. Scott McTominay, a key attacking threat, was missing. Instilling ruthlessness in a team is no easy task; it is one, however, Pocognoli has the coaching credentials to meet.
Slovenia, on this evidence, have the more significant challenges. It was only the last details we missed.” His demeanour was upbeat. Ninety-four days had passed since Scotland’s loss to Brazil all but confirmed World Cup elimination.
When that meek exit was certain, Clarke announced his resignation. Players and supporters alike seem caught between being highly grateful to Clarke for materially altering Scotland’s fortunes and heralding regime change. In Slovenia, Pocognoli sampled international management for the first time at the age of 39.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
