Scotland opened their Nations League campaign with a goalless draw in Slovenia under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. The first half was described as turgid and disjointed, lacking the front-foot pressing, high intensity, and goal threat Pocognoli had promised. Scotland managed no shots on target and took 38 minutes to enter Slovenia's penalty area, prompting frustration among fans who recalled the more exciting Steve Clarke era.

However, the second half saw a marked improvement, with Scotland becoming more threatening in attack. Oli Mc Burnie had a one-on-one chance with Jan Oblak but failed to score, expressing frustration over his continued international goal drought. Robbie Ure hit the post and Kieron Bowie missed a clear chance, but the team registered 17 shots—their most in a competitive game in over 14 years—and all 10 outfield players had a shot on target for the first time since June 2022.

Pocognoli’s tactical adjustments, including dropping Mc Burnie deeper and using Billy Gilmour to dictate play from a deeper midfield role, helped spark the improvement. Gilmour’s influence was central to Scotland’s second-half resurgence. Pocognoli described the match as "two games in one," acknowledging the poor first half but praising the second-half ambition, relentlessness, and belief.

While the 0-0 draw left Scotland without a win in three consecutive tournament games for the first time in nearly 22 years, the performance offered hope for future productivity, especially ahead of their upcoming match against Switzerland at Hampden Park.