Robertson says Scotland were outrun after Slovenia’s second‑half strike

Danijel Sturm’s second‑half strike broke the dead‑lock and set the tone for Slovenia’s 2‑1 Nations League victory at Hampden Park, leaving Scotland trailing despite a first‑half lead.

Previous win raised expectations

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Scotland had arrived in Glasgow on the back of a convincing win in North Macedonia on Saturday, which made them favourites to extend the run at Hampden Park.

First‑half promise undone by defensive frailties

Ryan Christie gave the Scots the lead before the break with a close‑range backheel that sent the home crowd into a roar. The half‑time score stood at 1‑0, but Scotland’s high line left large gaps that Slovenia would later exploit.

Second‑half collapse and Slovenia’s comeback

Aljosa Matko followed Sturm’s goal to complete a 2‑1 turnaround, exposing Scotland’s alarmingly open defence. The visitors looked fresher and hungrier, and the Scots failed to replicate the composure that had served them in the earlier match.

Scotland’s defence falters while Slovenia’s attackers shine, Hendry rated poorly

Captain Andy Robertson told Scotland: “Not good enough. The whole team didn’t do the good things we did on Saturday. They caused us a lot of problems and we have to find the reasons why.” He added that the long camp might have contributed to fatigue and that Slovenia appeared “more hungry”.

Managerial criticism and squad changes

New boss Sebastien Pocognoli echoed his captain’s assessment, saying Scotland were “well below par” and “far from strong enough in the duels”. He noted that Josh McPake made his debut against Slovenia, joining recent call‑ups Stephen Welsh, Robbie Ure, Luis Binks and Luke Graham.

Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday argued that Pocognoli’s “honeymoon period” is over, describing the performance as “as poor as I can remember”. Former national‑team captain Willie Miller questioned whether the back‑three system would survive, citing “huge gaps” that Slovenia repeatedly exploited.

The defeat dents Scotland’s momentum in the Nations League, leaving them vulnerable in the group and highlighting the need for tactical adjustments before the next round of fixtures.