What's happened
Scotland has failed to score in four straight matches, with a 0-0 draw in Slovenia and a 3-0 defeat by Switzerland earlier in the international window. They now travel to Skopje to face North Macedonia in the Nations League, hoping for a maiden win and to avoid the national team’s longest goalless run. Andy Robertson is set to earn his 100th cap as Jack Hendry serves a suspension.
What's behind the headline?
What’s changing in Scotland’s approach
- Pocognoli faces lineup decisions as he searches for a functioning attack in Skopje.
- The defense is under scrutiny after a high-profile red card against Switzerland, with Hendry suspended.
- The team must balance keeping a solid back line with the need to break a scoring drought that has stretched back to June.
What to watch
- How Scotland’s midfield releases chances early to avert another goalless match.
- Whether McGinn can provide the first breakthrough or if new combinations will unlock North Macedonia’s defense.
- The impact of Robertson’s 100th cap on team morale and performance.
How we got here
Scotland’s latest fixtures come after a winless run in the current window. A failure to score by 25 minutes in Skopje would set a historic record for the national team. North Macedonia arrive without a point in Group B1, having lost to Switzerland and Slovenia.
Our analysis
The Scotsman: The Nations League preview and match report from Matthew Elder; The Scotsman: Pocognoli’s selection and tactics discussed by Mark Atkinson.
Go deeper
- Will Scotland end the goalless run in Skopje?
- Who lines up in the back three without Hendry?
- Can Robertson cap his 100th cap with a winning goal?
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John McGinn is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Scotland national team.
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Slovenia - Country in the Balkans
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country located in Europe at the crossroads of main European cultural and trade routes.
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North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. It gained its independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia.
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Switzerland - Country in Europe
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a country situated in the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern.