Scotland Under-21s began a new era with a dominant 5-2 win over Azerbaijan, showcasing attacking flair and high pressing under new head coach Tony Docherty and assistant Steven Naismith. Findlay Curtis stood out, contributing to all five goals, while Tyler Fletcher and James Wilson also scored. The performance reflected the vision of Docherty, who emphasized creating an identity through counter-pressing and energetic play, mirroring the senior men's side under Sebastien Pocognoli.
The Scottish FA’s new chief football officer Craig Mulholland orchestrated broader youth coaching changes, aiming to streamline the pathway to the first team. Docherty noted the players’ enthusiasm and leadership, especially from Curtis, Fletcher, and Wilson, who had recently trained with the senior squad. Stewart, who scored twice, said the team studies first-team patterns to align tactics.
The revamp extends to younger age groups, with Tam Courts and Lee Wallace leading the under-19s, and David McCallum and Jonny Hayes involved in other youth setups. The win signaled intent to build a cohesive, progressive youth system.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing