Pocognoli’s first real test as Scotland’s head coach

At one point, Billy Gilmour was dropping so deep that you almost thought he wanted to watch the game from a different perspective. Maybe that was exactly the point. It took Scotland 45 minutes in Ljubljana to find their footing under Sebastien Pocognoli. The Bravehearts need to get off to a better start in the Scotland vs. Switzerland match.

The first half against Slovenia was a sluggish start: little pace, hardly any connection, and no shots on goal. It all still felt as if a team were trying to learn a new language but was pausing to think about every word at first. Then Pocognoli made a few adjustments and improved the outlook for the Scotland vs. Switzerland matchup.

Gilmour gained more control in the build-up. Oli McBurnie dropped deeper into the midfield more often. John McGinn found space behind the Slovenian midfield line. The fullbacks pushed forward more boldly. Suddenly, what had been a dull 0–0 draw had turned into a sort of statement of intent. A win and a goal eluded them, but the Scots showed enough to shift the mood ahead of their home match against the Nati.

However, the bookmakers aren’t entirely convinced by the home team’s turnaround just yet. The Scotland vs. Switzerland odds show the visitors as the clear favorites. Unlike with the Tartan Army, Nati coach Murat Yakin’s tactics are well known to his players.

Relegation from Nations League A was a wake-up call for the visitors. Their World Cup exit against Argentina—marked by Breel Embolo’s controversial red card and two goals conceded in extra time—was a painful blow. Granit Xhaka is missing from the team during this international break, as is Embolo following the revelation of the fake COVID certificates. But Switzerland rarely falls apart. They secured a commanding 3-0 victory against North Macedonia.

Scotland – Switzerland Head-to-Head Record

In this millennium, Scotland and Switzerland have faced each other only twice. Both times, both teams scored. Both times, the Nati avoided a loss. In 2006, Switzerland won 3–1 on the road in Scotland. About 18 years later, Murat Yakin led his team to a 1–1 draw.

A total of 17 matches have been recorded between the two national teams. The Bravehearts still lead the head-to-head record with eight wins, four draws, and five losses. However, the goal difference is nearly even (27–25).

Scotland vs. Switzerland Prediction

With Xhaka and Embolo out, Zeki Amdouni seized his opportunity, scoring two goals and setting up the other against North Macedonia. We don’t need to worry about Switzerland’s offense.

With Dan Ndoye and Johan Manzambi, Switzerland has an attack that can put pressure on Scotland’s back three in various ways.

Ndoye attacks the space behind the fullbacks. Manzambi identifies and runs into the spaces between midfield and defense. In this new system, Scotland needs Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey to play in advanced positions—which is exactly where we expect the visitors to launch most of their attacks.

But the home team has more than enough potential of its own to find the back of the Swiss net. For the Swiss, matches featuring goals from both sides have been the norm this calendar year—eight of their eleven games met the criteria for “Both Teams to Score.”