Scotland 0–3 Switzerland: Hendry Red Card Puts Pocognoli’s Hampden Debut in Trouble
Sébastien Pocognoli suffered defeat in his first match at Hampden Park as Scotland were beaten 3–0 by Switzerland in Nations League B.
Scotland were reduced to ten men inside the opening ten minutes when Jack Hendry brought down Switzerland forward Dan Ndoye while denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Referee Nenad Minaković initially awarded a penalty and showed Hendry a yellow card, but VAR confirmed that the foul had taken place outside the box and upgraded the punishment to a red card.
Ricardo Rodríguez then curled the resulting free-kick into the top-left corner from the edge of the area. Scotland responded with determination, but playing most of the match a man down left them with little margin for error.
Switzerland Take Control After the Break
Switzerland doubled their lead early in the second half. Remo Freuler’s low cross found Nico Elvedi, who guided the ball into the far corner at the near post.
Scotland continued to fight, but Switzerland controlled the game and created the clearer chances. In the 82nd minute, Ndoye cut the ball back for Burnley forward Zeki Amdouni, who finished emphatically past goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
The Key Moments at Hampden Park
- 9 minutes: Hendry brings down Ndoye and the referee points to the penalty spot.
- 10 minutes: VAR rules that the foul happened outside the box. The penalty is cancelled, but Hendry is sent off.
- 12 minutes: Rodríguez scores directly from the resulting free-kick.
- 21 minutes: Scotland appeal for a penalty after John McGinn goes down during a corner, but play continues.
- 55 minutes: Elvedi turns in Ndoye’s cross to make it 2–0.
- 82 minutes: Amdouni converts another Ndoye delivery to complete the scoring.
Pocognoli: “The Game Plan Had to Change”
Scotland’s new head coach admitted that the red card forced his team to abandon its original approach almost immediately.
“It was a frustrating night. There is not a lot to say about the game when you play 80 per cent of it with ten men,” Pocognoli said.
“The free-kick came directly after the red card, so it was probably the worst situation we could have faced. We would have preferred a penalty and to stay with eleven players so we could show what we had planned.”
He praised the team’s effort after the dismissal, while acknowledging that Switzerland gave Scotland very little space to exploit.
“We started aggressively and tried to play on the front foot, but after eight minutes the game plan had to be put aside. The players did their best and tried to find moments in transition or from set pieces, but Switzerland are a good side and they did not give much away.”
Robertson Urges Scotland to Stay Positive
Captain Andy Robertson said the early dismissal created the worst possible start for a new manager and a new squad, but he was proud of the players’ response.
“Your first home game under a new manager should be a chance to make a good start. Instead, we had a player sent off early. It was difficult with eleven men and even harder with ten,” Robertson said.
“We hardly touched the ball in the second half, but that did not stop the players fighting for one another. We have a new manager and a new squad, so we have to stay positive.”
Robertson also felt Scotland could have benefited from Switzerland receiving a penalty and Hendry remaining on the pitch, rather than conceding a free-kick and losing a defender.
“Football is about split-second decisions. Jack tried to win the ball, but once the referee said it was outside the box, I thought we would have been better off with a penalty and a yellow card,” he said.
Scotland’s Next Nations League Fixtures
- 3 October: North Macedonia away — 7:45pm
- 6 October: Slovenia at home — 7:45pm
- 13 November: North Macedonia at home — 7:45pm
- 16 November: Switzerland away — 7:45pm
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