Sebastian Pocognoli stated that he hopes the team will maintain balance during matches, regardless of whether the situation is favorable or difficult.

The Scottish national team has arrived in Ljubljana for their upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Slovenia. Ahead of the game, head coach Sebastian Pocognoli appeared at the Stojce Stadium for the pre-match press conference.  

This will be Scotland's first match since their defeat to Brazil in Miami at the 2026 World Cup. Compared to the World Cup period, the Scottish squad has undergone significant changes, with more than half of the players not participating in this summer's World Cup finals.  

For Sebastian Pocognoli, the upcoming match will be his first game in charge of Scotland since officially taking over as manager last month. He also spoke about his expectations for his first match in charge.  

Sebastian Poconioli said: "We had a very enjoyable training camp in La Manga, achieving all the expected goals both on and off the pitch. I'm really looking forward to my first game in charge of Scotland, as I hope to see the team bring what we showed in training this week to the pitch."  

“I’m really looking forward to seeing if we can actually do that, and the answer will be revealed soon. The team has a lot of new faces and a new head coach, so we need to get to know each other better through this training camp, and the whole process has been very natural.”  

“I hope the team can maintain a good balance at all times, staying focused and concentrated whether the game is going well or encountering difficulties. Slovenia is a strong team, and we have analyzed them. They have also recently changed their head coach. We expect them to show strong competitiveness and hope to control the tempo of the game in the first home game, so we must prepare in advance.”  

"However, I think we also need to focus on ourselves and be clear about what kind of performance we want to show on the field. The foundation that the team has built in the past still exists, and we will make the most of those advantages. At the same time, I also hope to explore our own path together with the players and coaching staff, and hopefully create a wonderful experience ahead."  

"We hope to demonstrate a positive attitude, a tenacious fighting spirit, and a strong desire to win in the competition, and to fully utilize the results of this week's training. We must strictly adhere to the competition plan, while the whole team supports each other, goes all out, and truly unites like brothers."  

Image source: Internet/Scottish National Team official website