Andy Robertson admitted that Scotland was “not good enough” and was “outfought” in their 2-1 loss to Slovenia at home during the Nations League on Tuesday.
After Sebastien Pocognoli’s first victory at the helm against North Macedonia, Scotland began the match positively, taking the lead with a goal from Ryan Christie in the 31st minute.
However, Slovenia equalized just before the hour mark, with Aljosa Matko finding the net after receiving a pass from Danijel Sturm, beating Angus Gunn with a left-footed shot.
Slovenia then scored the decisive goal in the 71st minute, with Sturm finding the back of the net again following another assist from Matko, eliciting boos from the home crowd.
This defeat marks Scotland’s third loss in their last four home games across all competitions (with one win), which matches the number of defeats they had in their previous nine outings at Hampden Park (four wins and two draws).
Robertson, who received a commemorative shirt for his 100th cap from former managers Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish, and Steve Clarke, was disappointed with the team’s performance.
“We were not good enough. The entire team’s performance was below par,” Robertson stated to BBC Scotland. “We failed to replicate the positive aspects of our Saturday game. I can’t explain why that happened. Slovenia created numerous challenges for us, and we need to understand why we struggled. Personal milestones don’t matter to me as much as the team’s results.”
He added, “It was wonderful to see my three former managers; I appreciate what the SFA did for me. That moment will always be special. But once the game starts, my individual milestones don’t matter; we aimed to build on our previous positive feeling but fell short.”
Robertson mentioned fatigue might have played a role, but noted that Slovenia had played as many games as Scotland. “They appeared fresher and more driven. While we may lack some quality and make errors, being outfought is unacceptable. That’s what happened today.”
FULL TIME: Scotland 1-2 Slovenia. Defeat at the National Stadium. #SCOSVN https://t.co/wUugEoSVSv
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 6, 2026
This result puts Scotland in third place in Group B1, three points behind Slovenia after their first four matches, increasing pressure on Pocognoli. Pocognoli is the fourth Scotland manager to lose his first two home games and the first since Berti Vogts in August 2002.
Although Scotland outperformed Slovenia in expected goals (xG)—2.17 from 12 shots compared to Slovenia’s 1.33 from 10 attempts—the team struggled to convert opportunities into goals.
Post-match, Pocognoli reflected on the performance, agreeing with Robertson’s assessment and asserting that his team did not meet his expectations. “We didn’t deserve to win; that’s the reality. Our on-ball and off-ball play fell short of the necessary level,” he said.
“We weren’t proactive enough, both with and without the ball. Our off-the-ball structure needs to be more assertive to bring the line higher. On the ball, we lacked cleverness and were not strong enough in duels. We need to be braver and more compact defensively.”
“Every game teaches us something, and we will try to learn from this experience and improve in the next match.”
Scotland’s next fixture is at home against North Macedonia on November 13, followed by a match against group leaders Switzerland three days later.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights the ongoing struggles of the Scottish national team under pressure. A poor performance can lead to questions about the coaching staff’s future and the squad’s overall direction, both of which are critical to maintaining fan engagement and support in the sport.
Source: www.soccernews.com
